Manchester United have commenced preliminary work in search of a new director of football, with the club sounding out potential candidates in what is set to be a painstaking recruitment process for one of the most vital appointments in the club's history.
Former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is also viewed favourably owing to his work at Ajax, but Man Utd remain open-minded about who should be appointed to what will be one of the most sought-after jobs in the game.
Mourinho has in the past been averse to the idea of working under a director of football, but he now accepts that the club will go ahead with the plans that they hope will give the club an identity that has been badly lacking one since the departure of Alex Ferguson.
In the three managerial appointments United have made since the Fergie era ended – not to mention loads of transfers – the club have often quickly settled on names and not budged.
Therefore the need for a director of football, whose remit will be wide, making it one of the biggest jobs in soccer.
A director of football and his staff will have to make a decision upon a general club approach, with every decision from the signing of players to the role of the head coach being the new man's task.
This appointment is long behind time and might finally see United maximise their massive resources.
It looks like United are going to give the search for their director of football the depth it deserves.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
