Manchester United eyeing Gareth Southgate as Erik ten Hag replacement

Manchester United reportedly view 53-year-old English tactician Gareth Southgate as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag.

According to Mark Ogden of ESPN, Gareth Southgate is the subject of interest from Manchester United. The Red Devils are in the market for a manager amid uncertainties surrounding the future of Erik ten Hag. The 53-year-old tactician has thus emerged as a candidate to potentially replace the Dutchman at Old Trafford.

Gareth Southgate played as a defender and a midfielder during his time as a footballer. He had more than 600 career appearances at the club level, representing clubs like Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Middlesbrough. The Englishman also turned out 57 times for his national side.

The 53-year-old entered the managerial world in 2006, taking charge of Middlesbrough. He managed the club for three years before taking a sabbatical and returning to the scene in 2013 with England’s under-21 side. But Southgate’s stock has soared since becoming the senior team’s head coach in 2016.

The English tactician has taken charge of England’s national team for nearly 100 times, overseeing 57 wins while losing only 14 times. The Three Lions finished as the runners-up at UEFA Euro 2020 under his tutelage while reaching the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. So, it is hardly surprising that he has emerged as a target for Manchester United.

Robert Huth recently backed Gareth Southgate to succeed as the Manchester United manager. And the club’s interest in him is understandable, considering Erik ten Hag faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford. The Dutchman has failed to galvanise his squad this season, with Manchester United losing nearly as many games as they have won thus far.

With Manchester United unlikely to win a trophy or finish in the top four if things continue like this, the writing might be on the wall for ten Hag. So, the Red Devils are compiling a shortlist of managers to pursue, with Thiago Motta recently emerging as a target. But Southgate is also a viable option.

The report by Mark Ogden also mentions Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank as targets. So, it will be interesting to see who Manchester United zero in on as the top candidate to replace Erik ten Hag amid rising uncertainties surrounding his future.