Ex-England star Joe Cole has named the ‘obvious choice’ to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Ten Hag appears to have two games to save his job at Old Trafford after United’s poor start to the season and Sunday’s disastrous 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Several pundits have questioned why Manchester United are continuing to back the Dutchman in the aftermath of a performance against Spurs which was described as ‘disgusting’ and ’embarrassing’.
United’s owners are sticking by Ten Hag for the time being but will want to see two better performances this week when the club face Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League.
If that does not materalise, they could well take advantage of the brief pause to the 2024-25 campaign provided by the upcoming international break and sack Ten Hag.
Cole believes a change is necessary and views former England boss Gareth Southgate as the ‘obvious choice’ to replace beleaguered Ten Hag.
Southgate, who was heavily linked with United earlier in the year, resigned as England manager following the Euro 2024 final defeat in July.
‘Gareth Southgate is the obvious choice for Manchester United,’ Cole told Paddy Power.
‘If you look at the ownership group, with Dan Ashworth – he worked with Southgate at the FA and it’s actually reminds me a lot with when Gareth took over at England and having to steady the waters.
‘The fans weren’t happy, and he managed to galvanise them and it might be the right place at the right time for Gareth and I hate talking about next managers when the manager is still in play but it’s really tough to look at Manchester United and – knowing how football is – know that they must be thinking about doing something.
‘Erik ten Hag is a top manager, and he’d walk away with his head high and silverware on the table – like he did at Ajax. He’ll get another job and that might suit his style a bit better.’
The ex-Premier League star added: ‘It could be a blessing that Manchester United are playing away from Old Trafford on Thursday [against Porto] in a game when not much will be expected of them.
‘It’s a really tough part of our job because Erik ten Hag comes to speak to us and he’s always very respectful he answers the questions, and he doesn’t shy away. But ultimately, it’s just not happening [for him].
‘If he walks away he walks away from Manchester United in the next few months, he walks with his head held high. He won silverware and is part of the history but I think the players look like they need a new voice around them.
‘It’s really tough but I’m only going off what I see and how the players are reacting. The body language, they look lost and it’s hard because it’s Erik ten Hag’s team not doing well.
‘He’s got a fantastic but tough job and he’s a nice guy but I just think it may have run its course.’
Whether Southgate would be open to taking over the struggling Premier League giants remains to be seen but comments he made less than three weeks ago suggest he would have reservations.
Speaking for the first time since resigning as England manager, Southgate said he was in no rush to get back to work and could even take a job outside of football management.
‘I’ve got lots of opportunities and I’m very open-mined about what’s next,’ he said in an interview with Sky News.
‘‘That might be inside of football, that might be outside of football. I’m just going to take some time; refresh, recharge and then go from there.’
Asked if he had been approached by any clubs offering him a job, Southgate responded: ‘I think people know that at the moment I need to get some energy back.
‘I’m intent on enjoying my life and I’m not going to rush into anything. I want to make sure that I make the right decision.
‘I’ve got some charities that I want to support which are very important to me but also there’s opportunities outside of football that I’m also quite interested in.’
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