Richard Keys believes Manchester United should turn to Gareth Southgate as their next manager with Ruben Amorim still not getting a tune out of his side. The Portuguese coach has not yet had the desired impact – seeing them lose again at the weekend.
Wolves were the latest team to head to Old Trafford and leave with all three points, leaving Amorim’s side in 15th after another loss. The ex-Sporting Lisbon boss arrived with a big reputation but is yet to show much progress with the jury still out.
Despite only being appointed in November questions are being asked about whether the Manchester hierarchy should back Amorim to turn around their fortunes. He will need several new players during the summer transfer window if he and his philosophy are to be a success.
Keys isn’t convinced the United boss should be trusted to turn them into a winning force once again and has pitched Southgate as a replacement after leaving his role with England.
He asked on beIN Sports: “The question is, would you trust him now, from what we’ve seen, to rebuild Manchester United with another £250m?” Before he then put forward the case for Southgate, who has been a man without work since the summer.
Keys began his explanation: “On the grounds that he’s taken England to two European Championship finals. He understands a modern player and what’s required in order to make the modern player feel good about himself, his football team and the club he plays for. He’s a master of manipulation and motivation.”
Southgate took over an England side that hadn’t challenged for decades yet continually took them to the latter stages of tournaments. His personal touch and the way he dealt with the media were cited as real strengths of his management style.
The 54-year-old has only had one job in club management – and that saw him preside over Middlesbrough’s relegation. Southgate claimed in the past that he would like to one day return to the arena and prove himself and the Manchester outfit would present him with that opportunity.
Keys added: “You cannot knock the fact he took England to two finals and was a whisker away from winning something. He is available, and he’s highly regarded as a coach. His club career was not littered with success but what I’m saying is that he’s grown as a coach, working with the finest talent available, into somebody who is a big club character.
“So why not? I believe he’s someone who understands the modern player as well or better than most. Speak to people who have worked with him and they will give him a glowing reference.”
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