Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has made a passionate plea for his former club to appoint a 'lunatic' as their next permanent manager, specifically naming former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and ex-Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi as his ideal candidates.
Ferdinand's Call for a 'Gun-Slinger' at Old Trafford
The former England defender, speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport, argued that the club has exhausted every other type of managerial profile and now needs a fiery, passionate character to instigate real change. His comments come with Michael Carrick installed as interim head coach until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim's recent dismissal.
'We’ve had every single type of manager now,' Ferdinand stated. 'We’ve had the wily, old Louis van Gaal, the experience of him and someone like Jose Mourinho... We’ve had the young, upcoming managers like (Erik) Ten Hag and Amorim. Then we’ve had the local legends who know the club.'
He concluded that the club must now 'go down the lunatic road', seeking 'people that are passionate and a bit gun-slinger type that just go at it, who won’t have it from the media.' Ferdinand clarified that his use of 'lunatic' was not disrespectful, but described individuals unafraid to 'rustle some feathers'.
Why Conte and De Zerbi Top Ferdinand's Shortlist
Ferdinand pinpointed two specific managers who fit his unconventional bill. First, he highlighted Antonio Conte, the volatile Italian tactician with a proven Premier League pedigree.
'(Antonio) Conte jumps off the page to me,' Ferdinand said. 'He knows the league; he’s won the league here. 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 and become successful quickly.'
His second recommendation was Roberto De Zerbi, the intense coach who impressed during his tenure at Brighton & Hove Albion. Ferdinand praised De Zerbi's ability to imprint a clear identity on a team.
'On the other hand you’ve got someone that can coach their team and get a playing style and an identity very quickly within a club. He’s done it at three clubs already, and that’s De Zerbi.'
Ferdinand admitted that such appointments would require a strong hierarchy, adding: 'I’d be absolutely fine by getting either of them as long as the hierarchy and the people operating football can handle them.'
The Search for a Marquee Summer Appointment
Behind the scenes at Old Trafford, the process to identify a long-term successor is underway for a summer 2026 appointment. Other names linked with the role include England manager Thomas Tuchel and Oliver Glasner, who recently confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace at the season's end.
However, Ferdinand's stark assessment suggests a desire for a more radical choice to break what many perceive as a cycle of underachievement. The immediate focus, however, is on interim boss Michael Carrick, who will take charge of his first game in a daunting Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford this Saturday.
Whether the United board heeds Ferdinand's forceful advice remains to be seen, but the debate over the club's direction under a new manager is now firmly ignited.
