Gareth Southgate could return to management for former side Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Manchester United managerial candidate Gareth Southgate could be a target for former side Crystal Palace.

The 54 year old was England national team’s manager for eight years, managing the side 102 times and reaching two Euros finals in 2021 and 2024, but ultimately lost both to Italy and Spain respectively.

The Englishman has frequently been linked to the United job should Erik ten Hag be sacked.

This is due to his connections with Sir Dave Brailsford and sporting director Dan Ashworth, who worked with him during their time at the Football Association.

Nonetheless, The Athletic have reported that even if the club do decide to part ways with Ten Hag, Southgate is not a contender for the job.

In addition, he has also distanced himself from the position by claiming he “won’t coach in the next year.”

However, Southgate may be in line to start work earlier than this, though not at Old Trafford.

The Guardian report that “Oliver Glasner’s position as Crystal Palace manager is under mounting pressure after his side equalled the club’s worst start to a Premier League season, with the Austrian’s fate expected to be determined by results before the next international break.”

“The former Brighton manager ­Graham Potter – who held talks with Palace earlier this year about replacing Hodgson – David Moyes and Gareth Southgate could be targets if Glasner is sacked, with all three at present out of work.”

Despite his affirmation that he will not return to management in the next few months, perhaps the pull of his former side might be too much to resist in their time of need.

The ex-England boss played for Palace between 1988 and 1995, captaining the club at the age of 23, and playing a total of 191 times for the Eagles.

Southgate would undoubtedly be an incredibly underwhelming choice for many United fans to take over the reins at Old Trafford. Therefore many would probably root for the former Middlesbrough manager to take the potential role at Palace to ensure he is not available if Ten Hag and the Red Devils do finally part ways.