We at TFF are always quick to point out that, in our opinion, one defender stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to the greatest Manchester United and indeed Premier League defenders of all time.
Jaap Stam was superb and Nemanja Vidic a titan. But when it comes to ticking every single box we could never look any further than Rio Ferdinand.
He played with distinction for Manchester United for a dozen years and was a cornerstone of the most successful period in United’s history. He was quick, aggressive and no-nonsense when necessary. But that first touch was good enough to leave many a top forward jealous. In short, Rio Ferdinand made defending into an art form.
And he has been a really insightful pundit since he left the club, which has perhaps piqued the interest of Jose Mourinho.
Because The Daily Mail reports that the new Manchester United boos wants Rio on his coaching team. They say:
Jose Mourinho lines up Rio Ferdinand for Manchester United coaching post as doubts linger of Ryan Giggs’ future at Old Trafford
We feel that Rio would be of real benefit to Manchester United moving forward. He isn’t only an eloquent speaker on BT Sport but he also makes a lot of sense. He has a clear understanding of the game and we believe that he would command huge respect in the dressing room.
Here are some of his best moments for Manchester United.