Former England manager Gareth Southgate has pinpointed internal "power struggles" as the fundamental cause behind the recent high-profile departures of managers at Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The Erosion of Managerial Authority
Southgate, who has not taken a management role since leaving the England job after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, shared his analysis on LinkedIn. He stated that the erosion of a manager's authority has been a gradual process, accelerating with the modern football structure.
"It has accelerated with the widespread introduction of football, technical, or sporting directors," the 55-year-old wrote. These directors now oversee long-term strategy, report directly to CEOs or owners, and sit structurally above the head coach.
Recent Sackings Highlight the Issue
Southgate directly referenced the cases of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid. Amorim was dismissed last week after a 14-month tenure marked by poor results and a reported dispute with football director Jason Wilcox.
The Portuguese coach had notably asserted in a press conference that he was "the manager" of the Red Devils, not "just the coach," just days before his exit. This incident followed Enzo Maresca's controversial departure from Chelsea.
Southgate cited these as clear examples where power dynamics were "ultimately the root cause of the end of each tenure."
Southgate's Three-Part Leadership Model
Revealing he insisted on the title 'manager' over 'head coach' when taking the England job, Southgate outlined his philosophy. His LinkedIn title, "Leader, Manager, Coach – in that order," is deliberately chosen.
The Leader operates publicly, sets the vision, shapes culture, and protects players and staff.
The Manager handles stakeholders, departments, and collaboration, crucially persuading elite players to prioritise the collective.
The Coach focuses on the pitch, developing tactics, style, and individual technical ability.
"My belief is that we should embrace a modernised version of the traditional manager," Southgate posted. He emphasised the human element, telling his FA bosses: "players are not magnets on a tactics board... They are human beings."
Southgate, who earned 57 caps for England, led the national team to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, Euro 2020 final, and 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. Speculation often links him to the Manchester United job, especially since Ineos took operational control, a link strengthened by his former assistant Steve Holland joining Michael Carrick's coaching team this week.
