Rio Ferdinand to Man United EXCLUSIVE: David Moyes says ‘anyone’ can be a sporting director as Red Devils legend linked with job

Rio Ferdinand to Man United EXCLUSIVE: David Moyes says ‘anyone’ can be a sporting director as Red Devils legend linked with job
David Moyes says anyone can be a sporting director amid reports linking Rio Ferdinand with the post at Manchester United.Ferdinand is allegedly frontrunner to be United’s first ever technical director with Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, keen to introduce the role over the summer.Woodward plans to restructure the club’s management team with someone brought in to oversee transfers after a number of questionable deals over the past few years.Ferdinand was reported to be favourite for the position earlier this week, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the United manager, wants someone familiar with the club to be hired.2

Ferdinand is being tipped to rejoin Man United in a senior role

Solskjaer is said to himself favour his current assistant manager Mike Phelan for the role, despite his lack of experience; Phelan’s only time serving as a technical director was with Australian side Central Coast Mariners before his return to Old Trafford towards the end of last year.Still, Phelan’s somewhat limited experience in this particular field is more than Ferdinand has.The former Red Devils defender has been out of football completely since his 2015 retirement, instead joining the world of punditry in his post-playing career. This lack of experience hardly matters when it comes to being a sporting director, however, ex-United manager David Moyes claims.“I think anyone can be a technical director now,” the Scot told talkSPORT’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.“Ive had a lot of analysts who are now in charge of football clubs, who have worked their way up the ladder and become heads of recruitment or technical directors.

Man United's sporting director search - the candidates

Ten individuals are understood to be on Woodward's shortlist for the position of sporting director, but who are they? talkSPORT.com take a look...

• Rio Ferdinand
• Eric Cantona
• Gary Neville
• Fabio Paratici
• Paul Mitchell
• John Murtagh
• Edwin van der Sar
• Paul Scholes
• Micahel Zorc
• Peter Schmeichel

“I think youve got to pick somebody who suits the club.“Its got to be somebody who can work with the manager.“Ultimately things dont change you tend to find the manager will always have the final say.“So whatever happens, the manager has to have the final say.2

Moyes lasted just 10 months in charge of Manchester United

“But it is [the technical director’s] job to help the ease the workload youve got.”United are behind the times when it comes to their lack of sporting director, with nearly all clubs having someone in the position.However, the Red Devils never needed one when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, and Moyes believes managers are starting to do more and more work – necessitating the appointment of an individual to share the workload.He continued: “[A sporting director] wasnt needed when it was Sir Alex and David Gill [United’s former chief executive] – they ran the club themselves, made all the right decisions and did a great job.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Eintracht Frankfurt vs Chelsea (Thursday, 8pm) talkSPORT 2
• West Ham vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm) talkSPORT 2
• Cardiff vs Crystal Palace (Saturday 5:30pm) talkSPORT
• Derby vs West Brom (Sunday, 12:30pm) talkSPORT 2

“I dont think its always necessary, but the managers do need a bit more support because there seems to be a lot more extra work.“At Manchester United you have a lot of work to do.”

---

Hibernian highlighted Paul Heckingbottom's commitment to attacking football as they appointed the former Leeds and Barnsley manager as their new head coach. Heckingbottom won the race to succeed Neil Lennon and has signed a deal until the summer of 2022.
Hibernian: Paul Heckingbottom appointed as head coach

---

Everton news and transfers RECAP - Thuram linked with Blues, Holgate impressing, Richarlison valuation doubles. All the latest news, transfers, opinion from Goodison Park
Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Barca consider Richarlison

---

Los Blancos suffered their 18th defeat of a disastrous season with a 2-0 loss to Real Betis with Bale set to depart on bad terms with boss Zinedine Zidane The match drew a difficult season for
Real Madrid 0-2 Real Betis: Gareth Bale heads down the tunnel

---

Leicester City have made a move to sign Celta Vigo midfielder Brais Mendez, who scored on his debut for Spain this week. Cadena Cope report the Foxes have registered interest in the 21-year-old but Celta referred them to his â ¬25m release clause at the club.
Brais Méndez #23 News, Stats, Photos - Celta de Vigo

---

Chelsea news: Andres Iniesta recalls stunning goal for

---

'I would do everything to keep him' - Manchester City starlet Patrick Roberts is becoming a key player for Girona in La Liga It's another case of an Englishman excelling abroad By Lee Roden
Transfer news and football gossip: Chelsea bid for Liverpool

---

Manchester City or Liverpool will be crowned Premier League champions on Sunday, when all 20 teams play their final league games of the season. Pep Guardiola's side must beat Brighton & Hove
Guardiola unsure on De Bruyne fitness as Liverpool crunch

---

Liverpool tunnel cam captures Virgil van Dijk celebrating before Sadio Mane goal vs Leicester. The Dutchman was obviously very confident that his teammate would put the Reds ahead on an icy night
Liverpool ratings - Mohamed Salah stars again as Loris Karius

---

Arsenal defender Rob Holding have suffered a massive blow against Manchester United at the Old Trafford, which appears to be a very serious injury. The defender who was having the best spells of his career is carried off on stretcher and was replaced by Stephan Lichsteiner in the 36th minute.
Rob Holding Stretchered Off During Manchester United vs

---

Guardiola dismisses Klopp claim of Man City having 'no weaknesses' Pep Guardiola has rejected Jurgen Klopp's observation that his Manchester City side are showing "no sign of weakness" in the
Football news - Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola dismisses

---

Sunderland AFC news and transfers RECAP - Grant Leadbitter deal confirmed; Lewis Morgan latest. Welcome to the live blog bringing you all the news and gossip from Sunderland AFC during the January
executive Archives - SportsAlert
sportsalert.org/tag/executive/
Bordeaux target Josh Maja will not play for the club again, confirms chief executive ON HIS WAY The Ligue 1 side are closing in on a cut-price £3.5m move for the 20-year-old, who has scored 16 goals this season Josh Maja has played his last game for Sunderland, chief executive Stewart Donald has confirmed.
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the deals from the Premier League and

---

Former Arsenal midfielder Nico Yennaris has changed his name to Li Ke as he bids to receive a call-up to the China national team. The 25-year-old, who was born in east London, played in the
Ex Arsenal kid Nico Yennaris from East London changes his

---