Liverpool may soon have the biggest managerial vacancy in world football. But there is currently as much talk about who will become the next manager of their bitter rivals Manchester United.
Current United boss Erik ten Hag eased the pressure on himself when his team came from behind to win an enthralling FA Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool before the international break. The 4-3 victory ended Jurgen Klopp’s side’s hopes of winning a quadruple while maintaining Ten Hag’s chances of ending an otherwise miserable season at Old Trafford with some silverware.
However, despite that success, which will see United take on Coventry City in the semi-finals, there is mounting speculation that new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will turn to England boss Gareth Southgate as the club’s next manager. Southgate, speaking ahead of England’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley on Saturday, was quick to play down the gossip.
But with Southgate’s contract with the Three Lions expiring at the end of the year and after Euro 2024, the speculation is likely to continue to rage. Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has had his say on one of the biggest talking points of the international break. But he’s also given his opinion on whether Southgate could take over from Klopp at his old club.
“If he’s available in the summer, then you’ve got to look at all the options,” said Johnson, who won 54 England caps during his playing career, to Betfred. “He’s done a brilliant job with England, so there’s no reason why he can’t be successful with a club like Liverpool as he’d be dealing with a similar standard of players.
“You’d need to have the chat because you can’t just dismiss him if he’s available.”
Southgate has not been named on the list of potential replacements for Klopp, who has led Liverpool to seven major trophies during his nine years in charge at Anfield. Instead, the favourites are said to be Xabi Alonso, Roberto De Zerbi, Ruben Amorim and Julian Nagelsmann.
But the reports linking Southgate to United are not going away. And the fact the Red Devils want to appoint Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director will only serve to strengthen the links. Ashworth, who was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United after the interest from Old Trafford became clear, was the man who appointed Southgate to the England job in 2016.
“It’s an awkward one to talk about because you don’t want to go into a major tournament speculating about whether England’s manager is going elsewhere and you also don’t want to make assumptions over Erik ten Hag’s future too because he’s still the manager of Manchester United, but unfortunately that’s what happens, so we’re going to do it,” said Johnson.
“There have been a number of good, successful managers that have gone into the job at Manchester United and have struggled, so it wouldn’t be guaranteed success for Gareth if he was to take the job.
“Manchester United are a huge club, with great support and on paper, they have a very good squad too. A top manager like Gareth could come in, get rid of a lot of the deadwood, provide that team with a good backbone and make Manchester United successful again, however, there’s been a lot of good managers that have taken that job in recent years and have failed.”
