Gareth Southgate has been quizzed about the Manchester United job (Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag has secured his position at Manchester United after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's preferred candidate, Gareth Southgate, distanced himself from the job. Amidst a comprehensive performance review following a season that saw the Red Devils finish down in eighth place in the Premier League and bow out early from the Champions League, Ten Hag's fate hung in the balance.
Despite the team's struggles, they managed to clinch a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, concluding an injury-plagued season on a high note. This triumph, however, was not guaranteed to keep Ten Hag in the job.
The football department at United, spearheaded by co-owner Ratcliffe, considered various candidates, including England manager Southgate, before opting to retain Ten Hag, who is now poised for a contract renewal. Southgate, seen as Ratcliffe's top choice and a friend of the soon-to-be sporting director Dan Ashworth, was not available for discussions until after Euro 2024, effectively ruling him out of the job for now.
When pressed about the speculation linking him with the managerial role at Old Trafford, Southgate emphasised his commitment to England's success in the upcoming tournament. He told ITV earlier this year: "I've got one thing to focus on.
"That's having as successful a tournament with England as possible. Everything else outside of that is a complete irrelevance to me."
Then, speaking to the BBC last month, he added: "Well, for me, it's not an issue and never has been. I have to deliver a successful tournament for England and there's enough work involved in that. I think everybody would expect that's where my focus should be."
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has considered his options before deciding to stick with Erik ten Hag (Image: Getty)
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"There will always be speculation about managers because if you lose a couple of games, you're in trouble you win a couple of games and it is a different agenda.
"But for me, it [Euro 2024] is a brilliant opportunity. We're looking forward to the tournament. My focus is on how do we go a step further than we went in the last Euros?"
Despite his current commitment to the national team, Southgate is expected to return to club management one day. With his contract set to expire after the Euros, rumours could reignite talk about a potential move to Old Trafford, especially if United and Ten Hag endure a rocky start to next season.
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