Manchester United’s search for a permanent successor to Jose Mourinho took a surprise turn on Saturday night after reports emerged that the Red Devils had added Gareth Southgate to their managerial shortlist.
The Telegraph claims that United are concerned that they won’t be able to lure over No.1 target Mauricio Pochettino from Tottenham, and have subsequently placed Southgate under consideration.
Bookmakers reacted to the shock news by slashing the England boss to just 10/1 in the next Man Utd manager market, and while his head could be turned should United come calling, here at The Sportsman we take a look at why Southgate should swat away any potential approach and stay with The Three Lions.
National Icon
Name a more popular figure in England than Gareth Southgate at the moment?
You can’t can you?
Years of desperate disappointment, false hope, and pure frustration were blown away during the summer months of 2018 when Southgate made the nation fall in love with the England football team again.
The sun was sizzling, The Three Lions were unexpectedly roaring, and sales of waistcoats soared through the roof. What a time to be alive!
In the end England may have fallen just short in their bid to replicate the heroes of 1966, but in six months time they have the chance to win the inaugural Nations League Finals when they do battle with Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland, something Southgate would not want to miss out on.
Contract Matters And The Pursuit Of Silverware
Southgate has only just penned a new contract with England, a whopping four-year deal back in October when the 48-year-old expressed his love for the job:
“You can have great relationships with your clubs and I did with mine - I had really special relationships with all three of my clubs - but emotionally the national team has always been the biggest thing for me.”
As stated, he’s a national icon, however just begin to imagine the scenes if he was to not only deliver the Nations League trophy, but European Championship, and whisper it "World Cup" glory to England. He’s currently in a unique position - for starters, he’s an England manager who is adored not loathed - and undoubtedly holds the key to the country’s future chances of ending years of hurt in the form of silverware.
And thank you for giving everyone one of the best summers we'll ever have.
You really are the one...
(📹 @rachelburden)
#SPOTY
Trigger Happy Man Utd
Since Sir Alex Ferguson decided to draw the curtains on his legendary managerial career, Man Utd have romped through three permanent gaffers in just over five years: David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho. Ryan Giggs was also given the briefest of periods to shine as caretaker, while Solskjaer is currently on a short-term contract until the end of the season.
Should United offer, and Southgate subsequently accept, the job then he will be under instant pressure to deliver in one of the most high pressure dugouts on the planet. David Moyes undid years of hard graft at Everton in 10 hugely disappointing months at Old Trafford, and it’s fair to say he hasn’t quite been the same since, following spells at Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and West Ham.
Learning A Lesson From Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman famously led Wales to within touching distance of the 2016 European Championship final. With his stock still high a year later the Welshman decided to return to club level management in a surprise switch to Championship side Sunderland.
Coleman no doubt had high hopes of transforming the club’s fortunes and delivering a return to the Premier League, instead he won only five of his 29 matches - 17% win rate - as Sunderland slumped down to League One - he's since darted off to China.
Meanwhile, Van Gaal led Holland to third-place at the 2014 World Cup, before moving to Man Utd where he failed to live up to expectations, spending two underwhelming years at Old Trafford before being replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Transitioning from international management back to club level is harder said than done, and has proved to be a real thorn in the side of many a manager.
