Ex-Sporting coach Amorim has emerged victorious in just 18 of his 49 games in charge of United – giving him a sorry win ratio of 36.73 per cent. The 40-year-old is aware that he needs to deliver a reversal in fortune if his head is to be kept off the chopping block. He retains the backing of the Red Devils board for now.
There is, however, plenty of talk to be found regarding potential successors to Amorim at the so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’. Southgate figures prominently in that debate having been linked with the Red Devils on a regular basis since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group acquired a stake in United during February 2024. Southgate has steered away from the dugout since stepping down as England boss in the wake of their defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
The Sun reports that Southgate is “open to discussing the possibility of taking over at United”. He is, however, said to have concerns regarding the amount of time he will be given to get the club back on track. Amorim was only appointed in November 2024 and could already find himself being ushered through the exits.
The Sun claims “well-placed sources say boyhood United fan Southgate believes it could take up to four years to make United contenders in the Champions League“. They go on to state that the 55-year-old would “require assurances that the United hierarchy stick to any long-term plan they map out”.
He is said to favour a “gradual change” model, with there fears on his part that United will “demand instant success – particularly if he made swift progress”. For now, Southgate – who is promoting his new book ‘Dear England: Lessons in Leadership’ is in no rush to return to the dugout. He has signed up for a BBC show and is happy exploring opportunities away from management – with it suggested that he may never take another coaching role.
United are being told, though, that their sights may be locked on the best man for the job. Former England international defender Joleon Lescott – speaking on All Out Football’s In the Mixer podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet – has said: “Manchester United have flirted with Gareth Southgate in the past. I don’t think there are many United fans that have wanted that. Things are so bad now, that they want Southgate. Arguably, he is the best person for their transition and the level of transition they are in. He is the only man who could go in there and create a positive culture – he galvanised England which is harder than changing the culture at United. He brought fans together.
“England fans weren’t always together, it was always Chelsea fans wanted Chelsea players to do well, Liverpool fans wanted Liverpool players to do well. Now, fans just wanted England to do well.”
Part of the problem for Southgate will be that he has been out of the club management game since May 2009, when he oversaw Middlesbrough’s relegation out of the Premier League. He went on to become England U21 boss, before taking over with the senior team in 2016 and guiding the Three Lions to back-to-back European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals – earning himself a knighthood.
United have one more game to take in before the next international break is reached, with Amorim under serious pressure to take three points from a home date with newly-promoted Sunderland on Saturday – with the Red Devils currently sat 14th in the Premier League table.
