Jose Mourinho has already approved Man Utd candidate to replace Erik ten Hag

07 March 2024 , 09:31

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Jose Mourinho told Gareth Southgate he was capable of doing any job after managing England (Image: Sky Sports)

Jose Mourinho predicted that Gareth Southgate would be capable of doing "any job" in the future amid reports linking the England manager with Manchester United.

The Red Devils are currently managed by Erik ten Hag, however, the Dutchman's position is in jeopardy with United lagging some way behind the rest of the Premier League's elite. They are currently 11 points off fourth place and failure to qualify for the Champions League is likely to prove fatal for the former Ajax chief.

While new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has yet to decide whether to make a managerial change, several top coaches have been linked with the job in recent weeks. Southgate is the latest to be touted as a target, according to a new report from ESPN.

The England manager is preparing for this summer's European Championships but his contract with The Football Association expires in December. And he revealed at the turn of the year that Mourinho - formerly of United - had told him he would be capable of doing any job after the experience of managing his country.

Southgate told Sky Sports: "I was 35 years old when I managed in the Premier League and we finished 12th and 13th. I knew nothing like what I know now. There isn’t a job in world football that would intimidate or daunt you, having lived this one.

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"I remember talking to Jose (Mourinho) when he was at Man United and he said to me: 'When you've done the role you're in now you'll be able to do anything really'. I thought that was probably right, but seven years into it it's definitely right. I'm confident in this role and whatever might be in the future.

"Of course, I'm not going to be here for 20/30 years and I don't know what the future will be. I'm very calm about that, but I'm not worried about what that might be."

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Gareth Southgate has been linked with Manchester United (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Although Ratcliffe has failed to publicly endorse Ten Hag since taking control of sporting operations at Old Trafford, the Manchester United chief insisted recently that he is not worried about his job.

He told reporters recently amid speculation: "I'm under contract for three seasons, so I don't care. I am in this process, I'm only focusing on the process, so I don't care what's going on around me.

"I have many talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, also with Sir Dave Brailsford and others in that group, so I know where we are talking about and I have a strong belief and I feel that they believe in me."

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Dan Marsh