Manchester United have reportedly added Gareth Southgate to a three-man shortlist as they weigh up whether to sack under-fire manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese is under pressure after presiding over a torrid start which has seen the Red Devils lose four of their opening seven games in all competitions in 2025-26.
Southgate reportedly an option should United sack Amorim
In a new report from , Southgate is reportedly an option for United should they decide to sack Amorim. The report claims that the former England manager was considered when the Old Trafford club decided to hire Amorim in November 2024, with Southgate unwilling to return to club management at that time. He has been out of work since leaving England just two days after their defeat by Spain in the 2024 European Championship final.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMinority owner Ratcliffe makes contact with ex-England boss
However, the report states that United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made fresh contact with Southgate in recent weeks, amid the club’s struggles on the pitch. The report concludes by claiming Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola make up United’s three-man shortlist. After guiding Palace to their first piece of silverware with victory in last season's FA Cup final, Austrian Glasner has presided over an unbeaten start to the 2025-26 Premier League season which has seen the Eagles rise to third in the table. Iraola, on the other hand, has won early plaudits at Bournemouth having led the club to three wins and one draw from their opening six league fixtures. The Cherries lost several key players in the summer including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, yet the club currently sit sixth under Iraola's stewardship.
AFPSouthgate widely considered England's second greatest manager
Southgate is widely regarded as the second greatest England manager of all time, only behind 1966 World Cup-winning coach Sir Alf Ramsey. After taking over the national team helm in 2016, the 55-year-old guided the Three Lions to successive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 – losing both against Italy and Spain respectively. The former Middlesbrough boss received widespread praise for the positive culture he instilled at St. George’s Park, avoiding a repeat of the cliques which undermined the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of the 2000s. Southgate was also hailed for reconnecting the England squad with supporters, making the team more likeable and relatable. He received a knighthood for his services to football at Windsor Castle in June.
Getty Images SportUnited have lost four of their opening seven games in all competitions
Pressure has intensified on Amorim following United’s 3-1 Premier League defeat against Brentford on Saturday. Amorim’s side have won just two matches so far this term – against both Burnley and Chelsea in the Premier League – while they also drew with Fulham on August 24. But United have suffered defeats against Arsenal, Manchester City and Brentford in the league, while they were also eliminated from the Carabao Cup in embarrassing fashion as they fell to a 12-11 penalty shootout loss to League Two outfit Grimsby Town on August 27. Since replacing Erik ten Hag in the United dugout, Amorim has won just nine of his 33 league matches in charge of the club. He is also yet to win back-to-back league games at United, 10 months after arriving from Sporting CP.
