Gareth Southgate Addresses Ruben Amorim’s Sacking in Supportive Statement for Ineos

Amorim joined Manchester United from Sporting CP in November 2024 after winning two league titles in Portugal. His reputation for using a back-three system caught Jason Wilcox’s attention, leading to a belief that Amorim could advance the club.

However, upon his arrival, the club labeled him as ‘head coach’ rather than ‘manager,’ which he found unsatisfactory.

The situation escalated 14 months later. While speaking at Elland Road, Amorim addressed the title change in a press conference.

The following day, he was dismissed. Southgate shared his thoughts on LinkedIn, echoing the changes being made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos at Old Trafford. He noted:

“The erosion of a manager’s authority has been a gradual process over many years. It has accelerated with the rise of Football, Technical, or Sporting Directors.”

“These directors now manage long-term football strategies,” Southgate added. “They report directly to CEOs or owners and hold a position above the head coach.”

Southgate’s Growing Connections with Manchester United

While fans may not be calling for Southgate to take charge at United, he is well-regarded within the Ineos group, particularly by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

United In Focus has learned that Southgate regularly communicates with Ineos Director of Sport Sir David Brailsford, even though Brailsford is no longer involved in the daily operations of the club.

Additionally, there’s a connection between Southgate and the club through Steve Holland, who now serves as Carrick’s assistant but previously worked in the same role under Southgate with England. This relationship could be crucial if Southgate is considered for the permanent head coach role in the summer. Even if he isn’t selected, Holland might remain under the next head coach.