Gareth Southgate has clarified his intentions despite rumors linking him to Manchester United.

Possible Replacement for Erik ten Hag:

There has been talk of Gareth Southgate potentially taking over the role of Manchester United manager, following the recent departure of Erik ten Hag. Southgate himself has already stated that he will not be coaching any team in the next year, despite the speculation linking him to the position at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag's dismissal came after a disappointing 2-1 loss to West Ham in the Premier League, leaving Manchester United in 14th place with only 11 points from their first nine league games. Their European results have not been any better, with three draws in the Europa League, including a lacklustre performance at home against FC Twente.

Ten Hag, who joined the club in 2022 and managed to win both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, has now been replaced by interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, there are other candidates in the running for the permanent position, including Xavi Hernandez, Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Frank, Ruben Amorim, and Southgate.

Despite being a favourite for the job, Southgate has made it clear that he is not yet ready to return to management. During the ECA Europe general assembly, he stated, "I need to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come out of a big role, you need to give your body and mind time."

Southgate stepped down as England manager after six years, following their defeat to Spain in the 2024 European Championship final. He managed the team at four major tournaments, including reaching the final of Euro 2020 and performing well at back-to-back World Cups.

Former England star Joe Cole believes Southgate is the "obvious choice" for the Manchester United job, citing his previous work with Dan Ashworth at the FA and his ability to steady the waters at England. However, United legend Gary Neville has reservations about Southgate's potential arrival, stating that the fans may not immediately warm up to him.

Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy will take charge of his first game against Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Neville believes that the team could benefit from a three-man defence, which could provide more solidity and support for the struggling players. Whether or not this change in tactics will happen remains to be seen, but it will certainly be an interesting development to watch for.

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