Ratcliffe told key quality new Man Utd boss would need to avoid Ten Hag mistake

25 May 2024 , 15:06

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been offered some advice amid his search for Man Utd's next manager (Image: Getty Images)

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United need a head coach, rather than a manager, to replace Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils are expected to part ways with Ten Hag following what has been an absolutely dismal season for the club, in spite of their FA Cup triumph. United ended the campaign in eighth place, their lowest finish in Premier League history, and lost a whopping 19 matches in all competitions.

United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is heading up the club's search for a new boss, and Ferdinand offered the billionaire some advice on his Vibe with FIVE podcast this week. He said: "If I was Man United right now I would go and get a coach.

"I want the best coach around, somebody who speaks the language, can communicate with the players and someone who can implement a playing style and really coach the hell out of young players, as well as the experienced players, and get all the players together to create a cohesive unit."

Ferdinand, who played 455 times for United, also urged the club to appoint a senior figure as an overseer in order to take some of the non-football workload off the head coach's shoulders.

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"I'd get somebody in the club, whether it's Dan Ashworth or Jason Wilcox who's part of the recruitment I don't know who it's going to be, who can now be the voice [of the club], and [provide] a bit of management from above," he said.

"The hard questions and the press conferences, take the convention away where the manager has to always be the guy. Let the manager be the coach, let him coach the team. Let someone else take the bullets and be in the firing line."

Rio Ferdinand has offered Sir Jim Ratcliffe some advice (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna and Roberto De Zerbi have all been linked with a summer move to Old Trafford. Graham Potter was understood to have been Ratcliffe's first choice earlier in the year, but the Glazers reportedly rejected the suggestion.

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Harry Brent