Sir Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United for 27 years (Pictures: Getty)
England football legend Paul Gascoigne expressed his desire for Sir Alex Ferguson to return to Manchester United for “one more season.”
Ferguson is regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history, having led United for an incredible 27 years at Old Trafford. Under his leadership, which will be celebrated as he turns 83 in December, the club secured 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, and two Champions League trophies.
Since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Manchester United has experienced a significant decline, currently sitting 14th in the Premier League under struggling manager Erik ten Hag. The club’s owners even considered sacking Ten Hag over the summer, and his continued tenure seems questionable as United, historically the most successful team in the Premier League, find themselves only five points above the relegation zone.
Despite showing faith in Ten Hag, reports suggest that United are exploring potential replacements, including former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and current assistant Ruud Van Nistelrooy. However, Gascoigne believes Ferguson should be brought back for a season to see what he could achieve with the current squad.
In an interview with SportsCasting, Gascoigne commented on Ten Hag’s future, saying, “It’s like me as a player; I knew I was good. And it doesn’t matter who I was up against, no problem.” He noted the difficulties faced by managers succeeding Ferguson, mentioning that even the likes of Jose Mourinho and David Moyes struggled to find success.
Gascoigne expressed sympathy for Ten Hag and suggested that some players may not be giving their all, stating, “You’ve got to give the man a bit of respect… I don’t think some of the players realize who they’re playing for.”
While Gascoigne advocates for Ferguson’s return, he also sees former England manager Gareth Southgate as a possible candidate for the Old Trafford role. Southgate, who stepped down after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat, was previously linked to the United position during the club’s recent takeover discussions.
Gascoigne remarked, “If United do get rid of Ten Hag, I could see Gareth taking over as manager. I always say once you’re England manager, you’ll get a job for life.”
Southgate confirmed last week that he would not be returning to management within the next year, stating, “I won’t coach in the next year, for sure… I need to give myself time to make good decisions.”
Manchester United, currently with eight points after seven games, will return to Premier League action on Saturday against Brentford.