Manchester United have suffered a massive blow in their pursuit of former England boss Gareth Southgate.
While Michael Carrick has done wonders for Manchester United since taking charge on an interim basis, the Red Devils continue look at potential options to become their next permanent manager ahead of next season. Former England head coach Gareth Southgate has constantly been linked with the job at Old Trafford, but United have suffered a blow in their pursuit as he doesn’t seem too keen on managing in the Premier League.
Southgate on a potential return to management
While speaking on The Football Boardroom Podcast, the 55-year-old said that he is not actively looking for a new role in coaching. Southgate said via The Daily Star: “I’ve got no passion to just go and manage in the Premier League. I did that at 35, I finished 11th, 12th. Who is in those positions now, probably Bournemouth, Brighton?
“So I don’t feel the need to just go and do it to say I’ve managed in the Premier League. I’ve had one of the biggest jobs in world football so I’ve been spoiled. Huge nights, working with outstanding players. No owner interfering.
“The bit that, externally, people are saying is, ‘well, he didn’t win’. So how do you prove that you can win? You’ve got to one of those big clubs.
“Now we know those big clubs… do I think I could have done the job that some people who have been in those clubs recently have done? Could I do better? I think I could.
“But we’ve talked about the baggage that comes with me as an appointment if you’re an owner.
“And there’s a reality around (that), I can understand what that noise is. There’s that bit which makes me potentially a complicated appointment for a club.”
After an eight-year-long stint as the boss of the Three Lions, he left the hot seat following their Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. The 55-year-old has been out of work ever since, but he suggested that he has no passion to just go and manage a Premier League.
His stance is certainly a massive blow for Manchester United, who have been looking at him as a potential option for their next permanent manager. The Red Devils will obviously consider Carrick for the job, given the work he has done, but the former United midfielder is not an automatic choice.
The board continues to look at other options, and they do value Southgate very highly because of what he did with England at the global stage. He might not have managed to win a major silverware during his time as their boss, but the 55-year-old certainly took them places.
He went on to admit that any new role would come with a lot of baggage. Southgate is content with what he has done as a manager and is not too keen on making a return to the touchline.
Former England boss is not keen on returning
The former England boss further added, “I don’t want to go and manage a different national team. Club? It’s honestly not what I’m looking to do.
“Now, two years after leaving England, I’m not actively looking for a role in coaching. If that European final was the bit (in coaching) I wouldn’t worry about that.
“Because there is another 15-20 years of my life ahead of me and I’m excited about a different video, a different movie, a different part of my life.”
Southgate seems to be enjoying his life away from football, and United will struggle to convince him to make a return. Given how demanding the job at Old Trafford is, the 55-year-old might prefer managing them any time soon. As things stand, the Red Devils will have to look at other options.