Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen and ex-captain Gary Neville have both endorsed Carlo Ancelotti as the ideal candidate to become the club's next permanent manager. The Red Devils are searching for a new boss after sacking Ruben Amorim last week, with Michael Carrick appointed as interim head coach until the end of the season.
Carrick, who previously managed Middlesbrough, impressed the United board during discussions and will be supported by Steve Holland and Travis Binnion. His first test comes this Saturday in a Premier League clash against Manchester City.
Meulensteen, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2007 to 2013, told Casinostugan: 'Carlo Ancelotti is the guy with the type of pedigree who can handle it because he's done it, he's seen it and he knows what a winning culture looks like. I don't think Ancelotti would listen to anybody else.'
Neville, writing in the Overlap newsletter, outlined four criteria for the next manager: handling media pressure, achieving top-four finishes and Champions League success, understanding the Premier League, and embracing the 'Manchester United way'. He concluded: 'The outstanding candidate for me would be Carlo Ancelotti, even if it would mean potentially delaying his arrival until late July if Brazil reached the World Cup final.'
Ancelotti is currently focused on leading Brazil to World Cup glory this summer, with the tournament concluding on July 19. His plans beyond that remain uncertain. The Italian previously managed Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, and was approached by United shortly before Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, but the move never materialised.
