Gareth Southgate insists that he’s solely focused on succeeding at Euro 2024 with England amid links with Manchester United.
The Three Lions boss has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford as speculation swirls around the future of Erik ten Hag.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS taking control of sporting matters with the Red Devils this term, a new head coach could be next on the agenda after wholesale changes in the club’s hierarchy.
That includes the appointment of Jason Wilcox as technical director and the continued pursuit of Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
With Man United currently eighth in the Premier League, Ten Hag’s role has come under scrutiny, but according to Southgate, his only focus is on this summer’s European Championships in Germany.
Speaking to the BBC, Southgate explained: “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.”
Asked about the Manchester United job, Southgate added: “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 [when they were beaten on penalties in the final by Italy].”
In a separate interview with ITV, he said: “I’m not a big gambling man and bookies, they can make their odds but it’s not conversations that’s been had with me.
“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.”
Having reached the final of Euro 2020, Southgate will be keen to go one step further with England.
However with a contract that ends at the end of the tournament, Southgate’s future will continue to be a big talking point through the tournament, particularly as Man United’s managerial search steps up.
Euro 2024 will be his fourth major tournament as England boss and begin their campaign against Serbia at the Arena AufSchalke on June 16 before facing Denmark and Slovenia in their remaining Group C fixtures.
He has club football experience under his belt after spending three years in charge of Middlesbrough from 2006 but is not prepared to think about returning to day-to-day coaching at this stage.
Southgate added: “If I start talking about that, then I’m already distracted from what I’m doing.
“So, I think the country would expect that my focus is on England, and rightly so it is.
“We’ve had three tournaments where we’ve taken the public on a brilliant ride. I think we know that and I know that you’ve got that desire to go that one step further and this is a brilliant opportunity for us to do that.”
News Summary:
- ‘Irrelevant’ – England boss Gareth Southgate addresses Manchester United speculation for first time as pressure mounts on Erik ten Hag
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