FORMER England boss Gareth Southgate is one of the favourites to replace Ruben Amorim if the Man Utd manager gets the sack.
Amorim, 40, is facing the axe after a dismal start to the season was crowned by a dismal defeat on penalties to Grimsby from League Two in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
The Portuguese coach took charge of United last November in a statement move by United’s new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
But just ten months later his fate hangs in the balance after his flops failed to deliver again.
And humiliating defeat to Grimsby - a club 56 places and three divisions below United in the league - could be a humbling too far.
Southgate is one of the bookies’ favourites to take charge at Old Trafford should the axe fall on Amorim.
Southgate, 54, has been out of work since he resigned as England head coach in the aftermath of losing the final of Euro 2024 to Spain.
And he is now joint favourite at 5/1 to be the next man in the Man Utd hotseat.
Less than a year ago, former England boss Southgate was the red-hot favourite to be the Red Devils' next permanent manager at odds of 2/1.
But he distanced himself from United and instead the Ratcliffe’s new regime went for a younger candidate in Amorim.
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Southgate recently told SunSport he has been enjoying a slower pace of life since leaving England, writing a book “on leadership”.
Asked about a return to management, he said: "I've no idea. It's not something I'm actively seeking at the moment.”
Southgate is joint favourite with former Man Utd star Michael Carrick, according to TalkSPORT bet.
The former Tottenham, West Ham and England midfielder was a highly fancied young manager at Middlesbrough before their form fell off a cliff last season and he was sacked in June.
However he still has powerful allies at Old Trafford, having been on an assistant manager at the club under former managers Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Carrick was also unbeaten in three games as caretaker manager in 2021, with a record of two wins and a draw, including a memorable 3-2 victory over Arsenal.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is 8/1 for the job, along with ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently head coach at the USA mens national team.
Bookies rate Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who is another former assistant manager at United, at 10/1.
Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, Fulham boss Marco Silva, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and former Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez are all at 12/1.