Peter Schmeichel considering applying for Manchester United director of football role
The former United goalkeeper want to return to football and is weighing up the prospect of throwing his name into the mix for the new position at Old Trafford
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Peter Schmeichel is considering putting his name forward to return to Manchester United in a director of football role as the club prepares for its biggest shake up since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
United looked to return to the glory days of Ferguson’s era with a 5-1 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday evening, the first time they have struck as many goals in a match since the Scot’s last game in charge before retiring in May 2013.
But despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s strong start to life in the United hot seat, the club will still press on with their plans to appoint a new position above the manager in either a director of football or technical director role.
The likes of Domenico Teti, Fabio Paratici and Giuseppe Marotta have all been linked with the position, with former Tottenham and Southampton head of recruitment Paul Mitchell also mentioned, but former United Schmeichel is weighing up whether to put himself in the running for the position.
“I’m actually thinking about putting my name in there,” Schmeichel said on BBC Radio Five Live on Sunday.
“It’s a tough thing to find out about yourself. Everyone looks at you, the scrutiny, and I’m not afraid of that. It’s also a really big change in what I’ve done.
“I really want to get involved in football again at some point. I know I’m getting older, but my life has just turned out a different way after I retired from football.”
Solskjaer has taken over at United in an interim basis, with a deal agreed with his current club Molde to loan him until the end of the season when a new manager will be appointed permanently. That could well be Solskjaer if he impresses over the next five months, although the likes of Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane are the frontrunners for the job.
It’s understood that United will first appoint a technical director though, with their first act and main priority to be identifying and appointing the new permanent manager, meaning that someone like Schmeichel could end up having to decide whether to replace his former teammate Solskjaer or give him the role permanently.
Despite this though, the former Denmark goalkeeper believe creating a director of football position at United is a wise move.
“I think it is a good idea,” he added. “What’s really important is to get the Manchester United culture back and the identity back.
“I would like to see someone who has played there and can bring some of that Sir Alex mentality back to the whole of the football club.
“I’m considering: ‘Do I have the qualities?’ And if I come up with an answer to that question, then I will put my name in the hat.
“I’ll have a good think about this over Christmas and New Year and make a decision.”
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