Man Utd considering Gareth Southgate as Ruben Amorim replacement with ex-England boss among three managers on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's radar

In a new report from talkSPORT, 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.

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.

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.

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.

However when asked if he is concerned about his future following the loss at Brentford, Amorim doubled down on his belief that he can turn things around at United. Speaking to the media after the game, he said: "I am always comfortable with the job. I am not concerned, it is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here. I am never concerned about my job, I am not that kind of guy.

"I'm always doing my job. If I win, I'm in a different state of mind. That is normal, but I'm always confident because I know what to do. I've always taken a lot of responsibility on your own shoulders. We can play better and we need to play better. It's like ups and downs. When you win, you feel that everything, the momentum is here. When you lose, you go back to the same place and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum.

"I cannot tell you more than I say every time I lose the game. Sometimes you see one team that performs really well and you see improvements. And then sometimes you have some games that you don't see that improvement. That gives you the confidence to say that Manchester United is going to get back. So it's always the same conversation. It depends on the next game. So let's try to win the next game and to improve certain things."

Amorim will be hoping to alleviate some of the pressure surrounding his position when United entertain Sunderland in the Premier League next Saturday. The Black Cats are in fine form, however, with Regis Le Bris’ side having won three and lost just one of their opening six league games.