Gareth Southgate tipped to replace Gary Lineker as MOTD presenter after shock career update from ex-England boss

Gareth Southgate has been tipped for a surprise new role after ruling himself out of the Manchester United job.

Southgate resigned as England manager in the summer following the final defeat to Spain at Euro 2024.

It is his 105th and final match during an eight-year spell in which he led the Three Lions to two finals.

Lee Carsley was appointed as interim manager while the search for a permanent coach was still ongoing.

Southgate has been strongly linked as a replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, with INEOS said to be big admirers of him.

The former Middlesbrough manager worked as a technical observer for UEFA and recently claimed he will not return to coaching anytime soon.

“I certainly won’t be coaching in the coming year. I’m sure of that,” he admitted at the ECA general meeting.

“I have to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come from a really big role, you have to give your body time, and your mind time.”

However, there are reports that he could move into science, with both the BBC and ITV interested.

And surprisingly, former England teammate Paul Gascoigne believes he could be a possible replacement for Gary Lineker if he steps back from presenting Match of the Day.

Image: Getty

“Lineker is retiring from Match of the Day, isn’t he, and I thought, I wonder if Alan Shearer takes over, or Southgate because he’s done a bit of commentary,” Gascoigne told SportsCasting, according to the Express .

“I think Shearer is taking over because he likes a bit of money. He’s so tight he just cries out of one eye! If Man United lose (Erik) ten Hag, I could see Gareth Southgate taking over as manager. “

Lineker, the BBC’s biggest earner at £1.35 million a year, has been in the role for 25 years and is said to be in talks over a new contract.

“It depends on how long they want me, I guess,” Lineker said of his future during the BBC breakfast earlier this year.

“I really enjoy doing it at the moment; I still have at least a year to go. So we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

“Obviously it’s another change in football and television and Premier League rights and things like that. All these things will come into play. But I just think it’s an absolute privilege to have been able to present it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!”

Image: Getty

He played off speculation about his time to be up sooner or later with a joke in his most recent Match of the Day opener, saying: Seven games in and it’s my last show… Before the international break.

The former England striker has named Micah Richards as a potential heir to the throne, while Mark Chapman, Alex Scott and Gabby Logan are among those mentioned.