England boss Gareth Southgate is unlikely to want an immediate return to management if he leaves his post this summer, predecessor Sam Allardyce has claimed.
Southgate has emerged as the number one choice of Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. Ten Hag, whose contract runs until the summer of 2025, is understood to be at risk with United in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
The Three Lions boss isn't the only name in the mix, with Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane among the others linked with Manchester United. Allardyce, however, can't see Southgate filling any gap.
Allardyce himself waited several months after his brief England spell before returning to management with Crystal Palace. And, after seeing Southgate deal with the pressure of the England job for the best part of a decade, he doesn't expect the 53-year-old to rush back into the dugout.
“I’m not so sure if Gareth [Southgate] walked away from the England job that he’d want the job at Manchester United, he’d want a rest!" Allardyce told William Hill. He’s feeling the pressure already at England, which is unbelievable at times, and yes it’s alright in the in between periods, but when it’s on, it’s really on.
“The difference with United is that it’s on every day, every week, every month, every year – the intrusion is never ending. I’m not sure he’d want that after all he’s done for England, he certainly wouldn’t want to jump into it straight away.
“I think the speculation around Gareth Southgate going to Manchester United has come from the new owners that have come in. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come in and there’s enough pressure at Manchester United as it is being the manager, without that constant nagging in the back of your mind wondering whether Jim is really considering Gareth Southgate. I don’t know whether they have sat down Erik ten Hag and said, ‘Look, this is not going to happen.’”
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Ratcliffe is expected to allow incoming CEO Omar Berrada to make the call on whether Ten Hag stays beyond this season. The former Ajax boss has reportedly received a stay of execution at least until the end of the season, having secured a dramatic victory over Liverpool to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Southgate, meanwhile, has paused talks over an extension to an England contract which expires later this year. “We’ve consciously shelved any discussions internally about what might be next, because I think if we had sat and signed a new contract and done that before the tournament, everybody would have said: ‘Well, you did this with Fabio Capello and you should be proving yourself before you sign'," he said ahead of the March internationals against Brazil and Belgium.
“I think it has the potential to negatively affect the reaction to the team. The team needs the clearest run they can possibly have at this tournament, so my job is to remove pressure from the team where possible.
"We’ve got to accept some pressure because we’re one of the favourites. But, equally, I don’t want to put anything additional onto the team.”
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