Manchester United legend Gary Neville insisted that he never saw one Red Devils-linked manager as the right “fit” to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s long-term future had been plunged into doubt in recent months after Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner of Manchester United.
The United boss endured a turbulent second season in charge at Old Trafford, which saw the Red Devils limp to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League table.
United fell well short of a top-four challenge and the Red Devils were left without Champions League football for next season.
However, Ten Hag signed off the 2023-24 campaign on a high note after United’s sensational 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
United’s FA Cup triumph in May ensured that the Red Devils secured Europa League football, with Ten Hag capturing his second piece of major silverware at United.
Neville speaks out on Man Utd-linked manager
Despite Manchester United’s success in the FA Cup, Erik ten Hag’s place at the Premier League club remained unclear ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 54-year-old Dutchman is out of contract with United in 2025 and the Red Devils were linked with several managerial replacements for Ten Hag.
United held their season review after the FA Cup and managers like Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino were seen as potential candidates for the club.
However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday that Ten Hag would remain at United after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos team made their decision.
“Erik ten Hag stays as Manchester United manager, decision has been made,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Ten Hag has been informed after final decision by [Ineos]. Contract talks will also follow, as [David Ornstein] has reported.
“Ten Hag will be Man United manager for next season.”
Gareth Southgate was also heavily linked with United ahead of England’s Euro 2024 campaign in Germany this summer.
The England boss is out of contract with the Three Lions in December and Euro 2024 is widely tipped to be his last major international tournament with his country.
Speaking in The Overlap’s newsletter, Gary Neville insisted that he did not see Southgate being the right fit for United had Ten Hag been sacked.
“I don’t actually see Gareth at Manchester United as a fit for him or the club,” he said.
“But regardless of that, if they do want him, I don’t think Gareth would risk his reputation, for integrity, by doing anything to jeopardise this Euro 2024 campaign.
“As such, I don’t think he will be Manchester United’s manager at the start of next season.”
Neville not happy with Ten Hag treatment
Neville claimed that it was unfair that Ten Hag, who arrived from Ajax in 2022, had a black cloud hanging over his United future during the Red Devils’ review.
“It isn’t cruel to have kept Erik ten Hag hanging for two weeks whilst Manchester United review the last two years of his work,” he said.
“He must accept that the season he delivered wasn’t good enough in terms of the heavy defeats that United suffered and the lack of cohesion in the team structure, especially when you consider the shots on goal conceded.
“The fact is, he probably would have been gone by now if he had lost the FA Cup final and no one was really anticipating a performance like that, a display on which you could almost hang your hat.
“But I don’t think he can complain that United have taken their time to consider options. Any Manchester United manager finishing eighth knows that their job is on the line.”