‘Very smart guy’ – Gareth Southgate tipped for huge Premier League job this summer

Gareth Southgate has all the attributes to turn around Manchester United’s flailing fortunes.

That’s the view of his former Middlesbrough teammate Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who believes the former England boss would be a clever choice to succeed Ruben Amorim on a full-time basis.

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Southgate has enjoyed an 18-month football sabbatical after leaving his post with the Three Lions following defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

Hasselbaink has first-hand experience of Southgate’s managerial capacity having worked alongside him as a coach during the tournament in Germany.

The perfect candidate

While Southgate fell just short of ending England’s long-standing trophy drought, Hasselbaink is in no doubt that the 55-year-old would improve United’s fortunes.

The now former England boss has hinted that his football management career is behind him, however Hasselbaink believes his close friend still has plenty to offer the right club.

Asked if he was surprised Southgate hasn’t been approached by a ‘big six’ club, the Dutchman told talkSPORT: “In a way, yes but on the other hand, no.

“He will take his time, he’s a very smart guy.

“I think it has to be right for him, the feeling has to be really good, he’s not going to jump into something quickly.

“I think personally he would be great at Man United because he’s good with the press, he’s good with the players and he knows the game inside out.

“He would stabilise them. He wouldn’t be up and down like Amorim was.

“I think he would be great but does he want to take it if he was offered it? I don’t know.”

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Former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick was this week handed the reins at Old Trafford until the end of the season.

A good run between now and the end of the season will provide Carrick with a strong case as to why he should be considered for the role full time.

The next four months will provide the 44-year-old with a real-time job interview and to assist him with his case, Carrick appointed experienced coach Steve Holland as his right-hand man.

Shrewd appointment

Hasselbaink, who worked alongside Holland with England, says he is among the best coaches he’s ever worked with and that Carrick’s move to appoint Holland was a smart piece of business.

“I’ve had some text exchanges with Steve to wish him good luck,” the ex-Leeds, Chelsea and Middlesbrough striker revealed.

“He’s a top coach, one of the best I’ve worked with. He knows the game, understands the tactical side and I’ve got no doubt that he will make Man United more solid and better going forward.

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“It’s a very smart appointment from Carrick to get him on board.

“I really enjoyed working with him and learnt a lot from him. He’s a top football man and I think Man United is in better hands than they were.”

Carrick and Holland kick off another new era at Old Trafford with the Manchester derby against City on Saturday lunchtime – exclusively live on talkSPORT at 12.30pm

What next for Carrick in the summer?

Carrick beat off competition from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to land the Manchester United job on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The Norwegian looked set for another stint in the Old Trafford dugout until club chiefs opted on the 2008 Champions League winner – a decision that talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook beleives was the right one.

“No other Premier League club would entertain the idea of appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, so why on earth would we have thought it was a good idea,” Crook told talkSPORT’s Inside Devils.

“Whereas Carrick, genuinely, I think if he does well in this caretaker spell, I think there will be clubs who are looking at him. West Ham for one.

“I think he was a lot closer to getting that Brighton job before Fabian Hurzeler was appointed than a lot of people realised. So that to me is the level.

“I’ve met Tony Bloom on a few occasions, I’ve spent a bit of time with him socially. He is an absolute genius.

“If he was willing to entertain the idea of appointing Michael Carrick, that’s good enough for me.”

He continued: “As much as I’m quite pessimistic and negative about Manchester United at the moment. I think Michael Carrick will at least provide some entertaining football.

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“Who knows, maybe a European place and even a Champions League place is not completely off the table.

“But it’s going to be difficult with this squad. How do you polish a turd?

“Ugarte was dreadful on Sunday. Dorgu, who they’ve turned into a winger, because Amirine got rid of all the other wide players, is not good enough.

“Sesko, actually in the last couple of performances under Darren Fletcher, maybe reasons to be encouraged by what he’s doing.”