Rio Ferdinand must devote whole life to Man Utd if he wants director of football role, warns guru
RIO FERDINAND has been warned to only chase the director of football role at Manchester United if he is willing to devote his entire life to the job. The ex-United defender, 40, spoke to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward about the position, which Old Trafford chiefs have been desperate to fill for 18 months. But one […]
RIO FERDINAND has been warned to only chase the director of football role at Manchester United if he is willing to devote his entire life to the job.
The ex-United defender, 40, spoke to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward about the position, which Old Trafford chiefs have been desperate to fill for 18 months.
But one of the country’s leading experts on helping technical directors succeed in sport says Ferdinand will have to ditch the TV gigs and his other business interests.
Andy McIntyre, who runs VSI Executive Education, said: “The sporting director is running the football side of the club, the medium to long-term strategy and vision.
“If you look at Manchester United, there has been no football strategy whatsoever since Sir Alex Ferguson left.
“They scream out as a club who would benefit in having someone as bright as Rio sitting there as director of football.
SHOW YOU’RE SERIOUS
“It’s a full-time, intense, hugely responsible position. And if he is doing that, then everything else has to go from TV appearances and other business.
“If you are serious about it, at a club like United, the level of responsibility is vast.
“We know of people who are up at five in the morning, do a day’s work and then fly off to Paris to watch a player.
“They are then back in at their desk first thing the following morning.
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“If you want to be director of football at Manchester United, it is something you need to be hungry for and are willing to commit absolutely to.”
McIntyre, who runs courses for retired sports stars taking the step into the boardroom, says Ferdinand could do with educating himself because his football knowledge will not be enough on its own.
He added: “For all the experience someone like Ferdinand has had, nobody has given him the skills to manage some types of crisis, or issues around Financial Fair Play.
“He is a talented individual, the type of individual that very much should be part of the English game.
“But what football can’t do is hang him out to fail. Why not help him develop his own leadership skills?”