Utd keep eye out for successor

13 April 2012

Manchester United are on the look-out for successors to Sir Alex Ferguson even though they do not believe he has any immediate plans to retire.

The Scot is about to enter the final season of a three-year contract, after which the rolling one-year deal he signed in January takes effect.

Ferguson, 62, has given no indication he is ready to quit and even the pacemaker he had fitted last winter has not slowed him down.

But chief executive David Gill knows the club must start thinking about a possible replacement.

Ferguson believed England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had been lined up when he was initially supposed to retire two years ago, while Ottmar Hitzfeld, Fabio Capello, Steve McClaren, Martin O'Neill and Marcello Lippi have all be linked with the job.

"We keep our eye on the managers coming through but it is a difficult process because whoever the hot star is today is maybe a cold star tomorrow," said Gill.

"It is not like a normal business where you can groom a No2 internally because it is not always feasible and, quite rightly, there are rules about targeting managers who are doing jobs with other clubs.

"As and when Sir Alex decides to retire, I am sure there will be no shortage of applicants. We just monitor it and make sure we are aware of developments in European football management."

Gill has also defended Ferguson's recent record in the transfer market-after fans accused the club of buying "Ford Fiestas instead of a Ferrari".

Of last summer's signings, only £12million Cristiano Ronaldo and goalkeeper Tim Howard made a major impact at Old Trafford while fans were disappointed with David Bellion, Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba.

United finished 15 points behind Arsenal in third but Gill said: "I don't think anyone could class Tim Howard or Ronaldo as Fiestas unless I am watching a different game of football to them.

"As for the others, you've just got to give them time. Young players like Kleberson can take a while to settle in. Look at another Brazilian, Edu, for example. For his first three years at Arsenal, he played second fiddle to Gilberto Silva but last year everyone was raving about him.

"We bring in players on four or five-year contracts so let's view them in the medium term, not after one season." United have already spent £13m on Alan Smith and Gabriel Heinze this summer and will also be boosted by the return of Rio Ferdinand when his suspension for missing a drugs test ends in September.

Gill added: "We desperately want Rio back. If you looked at our form before Rio was suspended, we had the best defence. Then the wheels came off a bit."

Meanwhile, Ferguson is reportedly planning to recruit the coach David Beckham blamed for his poor fitness at Euro 2004.

Valter di Salvo, 40, is poised to follow new United No2 Carlos Queiroz from Real Madrid to Old Trafford.

When England lost to Portugal in the quarter-finals, Beckham said his fitness and stamina levels at Madrid had not matched those he enjoyed at United. But Italian Di Salvo is considered one of Europe's most innovative fitness coaches.

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