"Rio Ferdinand Advocates for Bold Moves: Two 'Gunslinger' Managers Manchester United Should Consider"

RIO FERDINAND has urged Manchester United to hire a “gun-slinger” manager like Antonio Conte or Roberto De Zerbi to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.

The ex-Red Devils defender was asked who he thinks should take the hotseat next after was .

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United should appoint a ‘lunatic’ manager like Antonio ConteCredit: Getty He also feels Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi would be a good fitCredit: Getty

has been , but United will be eyeing up long-term replacement in the summer.

And , who won six Premier League titles with , believes the club need a fiery, no-nonsense manager to turn their fortunes around.

United finished 15th in the Premier League last season but are now just one point off fifth spot, which should be enough for football.

Ferdinand told BBC 5Live : “We’ve had every type of manager now. We’ve had the wily, old , we’ve had . Probably not at his peak but still a massive name with great character.

“We’ve had the young, upcoming managers like [Erik] Ten Hag and Amorim. Then we’ve had the local legends who know the club.

“We now probably need to go down the lunatic road. We need to go down the people that are passionate and a bit gun-slinger type that just go at it, who won’t have it from the media.

“When I say lunatic, there are only two people that I’m looking at right now.”

He mentioned former Chelsea and Spurs boss , who is now at and won the title last season.

Ferdinand says United need a ‘passionate’ and ‘gun-slinger’-type managerCredit: Getty

Ferdinand added: “[Antonio] Conte jumps off the page to me. I think he’s somebody who would jump at the opportunity.

“I think he came into Chelsea and Napoli when they were both tenth or eleventh and won the league both times. So he knows how to come in and stabilise.”

Another possible candidate Ferdinand name-dropped was former Brighton boss De Zerbi, who is now at side Marseille.

The Italian impressed at the Amex with a sixth-placed finish in his first season in 2022-23 and Ferdinand believes he can quickly get his style across to a new team.

He added: “On the other hand you’ve got someone that can coach their team and get a playing style and an identity very quickly. He’s done it at three clubs already, and that’s [Roberto] De Zerbi.

“We need elements of both of those two coaches and I’d be absolutely fine by getting either of them.”

United’s first game under Carrick is a tough one as they welcome rivals Man City to for the Manchester Derby.

His predecessor had warned United players were “fragile” after their , but Carrick insisted he hadn’t noticed any “red flags” and was confident of turning things around.

Carrick told the media: “I’ve been back in this role for three days and there’s nothing that I’ve looked at and that’s really red flagged anything I have to say.

“The players have been really good, willing to listen, willing to learn, wanting to do better, wanting to do better for a club, wanting to put on better performances.

“At the moment I feel it’s a good place and the training ground’s been a really good place and we’ll need to make Old Trafford tomorrow an even better place, with the help of the supporters as well. And that’s the magic of what we’re trying to do.”