England manager Gareth Southgate drops massive hint over his future amid Man Utd links

England manager Gareth Southgate has dropped the biggest hint yet about his future, just days before their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia.

The 53-year-old, who took the Three Lions job in November 2016 following a spell as interim, is the most successful England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.

He led his country to a semi-final at the 2018 World Cup in Russia following wins over Tunisia, Panama, Colombia and Sweden.

But after helping England reach the Euro 2020 final, questions were raised following a disappointing quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Qatar.

For some time, Southgate has been coy over his future. After that defeat to France, he said he wouldn't let emotions decide the next step of his journey.

Now, more than a year on, the former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender says he must win the Euros to keep his job.

Speaking to German publication BILD, Southgate mentioned this summer's tournament as being his "last chance" to lift a trophy.

“If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore. So maybe it is the last chance," he said.

"I think around half the national coaches leave after a tournament — that’s the nature of international football.

“I’ve been here almost eight years now and we’ve come close. You can’t constantly put yourself in front of the public and say, ‘A little more please’, as at some point people lose faith."

He added: "If we want to be a great team and I want to be a top coach, you must deliver in big moments.”

Image credit: Getty

Southgate, meanwhile, is one of the favourites to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United should the Dutchman be relieved of his duties at Old Trafford.

England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has backed the former Middlesbrough boss to make the transition to a top club.

When asked about Southgate in recent interview with YouTube channel That's Football, the Arsenal shot-stopper said: "He’s a real people person. I think he’s got the best out of a number of players in the squad.

"Obviously we fell short on one or two occasions, but how he works, how he is as a man with his group is special.

"We have Steve Holland who just adores football and his tactics and everything like that and then we have Gareth who brings the football side of him playing and the knowledge and experiences he had in international football.

"But also, he’s there for a chat with players who are in the team, out the team, in form, out of form.

"He makes everyone feel together and he speaks to the boys who are struggling more than he would need to speak to someone at the top of their game like a Jude [Bellingham] or a Harry [Kane] and that’s what makes you feel like a real unit and a real group."

When asked if he could transition into club football, Ramsdale added: "I don’t see why he wouldn’t.

"I don’t think there’s ever been a manager who has only done international jobs, has there? And I don’t think there has ever been that much of an uproar or a case to say other managers who have gone from international teams to club football.

"Obviously as the England manager you get a lot of scrutiny, that comes with the job.

"People always have something to say but the way he works and the he would be able to equip his backroom staff to be able to deal with everyday work, I’m pretty sure he’d be fine.

"If he does, I’d look forward to seeing how he would in the day-to-day and how his team have done."