Manchester United are considering hiring former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar as the club’s Director of Football, according to reports in the UK.
The Dutchman is currently the chief executive at Ajax and his knowledge of the club could make him a good candidate for the role at Old Trafford.
United’s preferred option is reportedly RB Leipzig’s head of recruitment Paul Mitchell but it is believed it will be hard to prise him away from the German club.
Fans on Twitter are mostly backing the club’s attempts to hire van der Sar:
Always said a Dutchman would be superb for the role. An understanding of football culture, having played for Ajax, United and Juve.
— Lewis Young (@Lewis_Young07) 22 January 2019
Bring him in pls. He has done great work at Ajax helped them sign great youth talents. And he know the history of United. He bleeds and sweats red.
— Smash9ja Entert10Ment Official: I FOLLOW BACK!!! (@Smash9jaent) 22 January 2019
Van Der Sar should be only option he’s perfect for the role.
— Andrew J. Naismith (@Gonk83) 22 January 2019
Van Der Sar as our DoF = De Ligt + De Jong follow ?
— Mark ?? (@Utd_Mark) 21 January 2019
Sounds good to me, another man that knows the tradition of the club. Give it to him
— KELECHI ??? (@Duncan_Kaycee) 21 January 2019
Although some supporters believe he lacks the requisite experience for the role:
Van Der Sar is not even a Director of football at Ajax… pic.twitter.com/STimfvngwr
— Isak (@IsakIPMusic) 21 January 2019
Not even the CEO, he is the marketing director
An Ed Woodward carbon copy— Iron Lion in a Zion (@SellasieSoldier) 21 January 2019
With some really proven DoFs around at the moment, if we end up with VDS, it will be another massive failure by Woodward.
— Riddhiman Medhi (@riddhis_life) 21 January 2019
No, just no, not even a Dof at Ajax, just go all out for Mitchell or get that Atletico guy
— MadLad (@Stalker2k19) 21 January 2019
It is believed that United will try to put a new football operations infrastructure in place before they appoint their next permanent manager.
At the bookmakers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now the favourite, ahead of Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, to be in charge of the Manchester club at the start of next season.
