Sir Alex Ferguson ‘Names First Choice’ He Wants As Next Man United Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson ‘Names First Choice’ He Wants As Next Man United Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly wants PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United manager.

That is according to talkSPORT journalist Ian Abrahams, who made the revelation on Twitter.

United are on the hunt for their fifth permanent manager since Ferguson retired following the sacking of Solskjaer on Sunday morning.

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The Norwegian boss was relieved of his duties in the wake of United’s humiliating 4-1 defeat to Watford.

Ferguson still holds considerable influence at Old Trafford, and was a key player in the deal to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

And the veteran Scot reportedly has a clear idea of who he wants to see replace Solskjaer in the home dugout.

According to Abrahams, Ferguson wants Pochettino as the club’s next manager.

He cites a source close to the club who suggests current favourite Zinedine Zidane will join PSG, allowing former Tottenham boss Pochettino to take up the gig at United.

The Argentine is on a list of five names under consideration by the Old Trafford hierarchy which also includes Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag, Brendan Rodgers and Zidane.

The Red Devils legend publicly praised Pochettino in April 2016, telling reporters: “Well the manager has been fantastic. They [Spurs] have a bad record of managers, there is no doubt about that.

“They have had so many over the years, but this lad has composure. You never see him ruffled and the way his team play is a testimony to the work he is doing.

“The most important thing for English football is how many English and young players are in his team. He understands the advantage of playing young people. They won’t let you down and they have been fantastic.”

Tottenham MP David Lammy revealed a conversation he had with Fergie about Pochettino while he was manager of Tottenham.

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The politician said: “About six weeks ago, I sat next to Sir Alex Ferguson at a dinner in support of grassroots football abroad.

“He said to me, ‘I think you guys have got the best manager in the Premier League.’ Alex Ferguson said that.”

And the good feeling between the two men doesn’t end there. In 2016, Pochettino was famously snapped meeting Ferguson for lunch in London, sparking speculation that he would one day take over at Old Trafford.

Pochettino later described the lunch as a “dream come true”.

He added: “When I was young, when I started my career as a manager, he was always my inspiration, my reference and when you can share two hours with a person who, for me, was the greatest manager in the world, the history of football, you can only enjoy.