Manchester United Put Gareth Southgate on Three-Man Shortlist to Replace Under-Fire Ruben Amorim
United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been in direct contact with Southgate in recent weeks.
The former England coach was considered when United hired under-pressure Amorim last year, but didn’t want to return to club management at the time.
The United hierarchy are reluctant to axe Amorim despite a dismal run of only 33 points from his 34 Premier League games in charge. If they do pull the trigger, they are likely to wait until after Saturday, November 1, to reduce the level of compensation.
Although Amorim has said publicly he would walk away without a payoff, it’s believed sacking him now would cost Manchester United around £12m.Other potential replacements include Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.
Amorim’s wait to secure back-to-back wins at Man United is showing no signs of stopping soon after a 3-1 defeat to Brentford.The Red Devils came into Saturday’s game following a win over ten-man Chelsea, but they’ve come crashing back down to earth again.Igor Thiago scored twice before Benjamin Sesko halved the deficit, with captain Bruno Fernandes missing a penalty to level things up.Mathias Jensen added a third for Brentford in added time, with United’s latest defeat dropping the club down to 13th in the table.
Manchester United Put Gareth Southgate on Three-Man Shortlist to Replace Under-Fire Ruben Amorim
The fallout from Manchester United’s humbling 3-1 defeat to Brentford continues to reverberate through Old Trafford. With head coach Ruben Amorim under mounting pressure and the board convening emergency meetings about his future, reports suggest that the club has already begun identifying possible successors. Among them, one name stands out: England manager Gareth Southgate.
According to insiders, Southgate has been placed on a three-man shortlist of candidates United could turn to if Amorim is dismissed in the coming weeks. The inclusion of the England boss, who has been in charge of the national team since 2016, reflects both United’s desperation for stability and the increasingly limited pool of elite managers available mid-season.
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Southgate’s Appeal
On paper, Southgate represents a safe pair of hands. He has overseen a period of relative consistency with England, guiding the national side to a World Cup semi-final in 2018, the Euro 2020 final, and another World Cup quarter-final in 2022. His reputation as a calm, level-headed leader, adept at handling high-pressure situations and managing dressing-room personalities, is seen as a major asset.
At Manchester United, where dressing-room harmony has often been disrupted by clashes between stars and managers, Southgate’s diplomatic style might offer much-needed balance. The board reportedly admire his ability to build a culture around teamwork, discipline, and communication—qualities United have lacked in recent years.
Moreover, Southgate is considered media-savvy and unflappable under scrutiny. For a club under the global spotlight, the presence of a composed figurehead is attractive.
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The Other Names on the List
While Southgate’s inclusion has generated headlines, he is not the only candidate being considered. United’s shortlist reportedly also features:
1. Zinedine Zidane – The French legend remains one of the most respected out-of-work coaches in football. With three Champions League titles at Real Madrid, Zidane would represent the kind of marquee appointment United fans have long craved. However, his reluctance to manage outside of Spain, coupled with questions about his interest in club football at this stage, complicates matters.
2. Graham Potter – The former Brighton and Chelsea manager is another contender. Despite his difficult spell at Stamford Bridge, Potter retains admirers within the United hierarchy for his tactical flexibility, player development skills, and long-term vision. He is viewed as someone who could modernise the club’s footballing identity without the baggage of a superstar name.
Southgate, Zidane, and Potter represent three very different managerial profiles: the steady diplomat, the proven winner, and the progressive project-builder.
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Timing and Practical Hurdles
For Southgate, the biggest obstacle is timing. He remains contracted to the FA, with England preparing for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Any approach from Manchester United would involve complex negotiations and could disrupt England’s preparations. Still, speculation has long suggested that Southgate might be tempted to return to club football before the next tournament cycle.
Zidane’s availability is more straightforward, but convincing him to accept the challenge at Old Trafford—where expectations are sky-high and the squad remains unbalanced—would be no small task. Potter, meanwhile, is free and available, but the memory of his struggles at Chelsea lingers.
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Why Amorim Is Under Threat
The urgency around identifying alternatives stems from Ruben Amorim’s precarious situation. The Portuguese coach arrived with a reputation for tactical innovation after winning titles with Sporting CP. Yet his United tenure has been defined by inconsistency, defensive fragility, and a lack of identity on the pitch.
The Brentford defeat is seen internally as the breaking point. Sources close to the dressing room suggest some senior players are unconvinced by his methods, while fans have grown restless after a string of unconvincing displays. With United slipping further away from the Premier League’s top four, the board is under intense pressure to act.
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The Bigger Picture
The consideration of Southgate highlights a broader issue: Manchester United’s chronic instability since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. The club has cycled through managers of all types—disciplinarians like Louis van Gaal, serial winners like José Mourinho, club legends like Ole Gunnar Solskjær, disciplinarians like Erik ten Hag, and now Amorim. None have delivered sustained success.
In that context, Southgate represents something different: not a tactical genius or a serial trophy-winner, but a unifying figure who could restore harmony. Whether that alone is enough to satisfy supporters desperate for trophies is another matter entirely.
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Conclusion
Manchester United’s crisis is deepening, and Ruben Amorim’s future hangs by a thread. The fact that Gareth Southgate is now on the club’s shortlist to replace him speaks volumes about both the precariousness of Amorim’s position and the direction United may be leaning toward.
With Zidane and Potter also in the frame, the club must decide what it values most: proven success, long-term vision, or immediate stability. Whoever they choose, one thing is clear—the next appointment could define Manchester United’s trajectory for years to come.
For now, all eyes remain on Old Trafford as the board weighs its options. The clock may already be ticking on Ruben Amorim’s reign, and the shadow of potential successors looms ever larger.
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