After Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, Robin van Persie could become the latest Manchester United hero to try his hand in management.
According to reports, the Netherlands’ all-time top goalscorer – after a brief spell back at Carrington and face-to-face talks with Rasmus Hojlund – is now a leading candidate to take over at Eredivisie outfit Heerenveen.
This, should he put pen to paper in Friesland, will be Van Persie’s first-ever managerial role.
Carlos Tevez, in contrast, is a little further down the line in his own desire to prove that, sometimes, great players do – in fact – make great managers. Tevez, a key member of Manchester United‘s 2008 Champions League winning squad, retired from playing three years ago.
He spent a brief spell at Rosario Central back in 2022 and is now in the dugout of Independiente. And the former Argentina international has the added advantage of having learned from the very best in the business. He’s not only worked under Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini, but also Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte Marcelo Bielsa and, erm, Alan Pardew.
Another former Manchester United star becomes a manager
“Passionate. Someone who puts his soul into it every day,” Tevez tells Gazzetta dello Sport when asked to describe his own managerial style.
“We (at Independiente) play dynamic football. High pressing and (with a) great attention to the attacking phase. I’m a force with my players, I’ve had great teachers.
“I am inspired by Conte for his passion and obsession for victory. From Bielsa, I took the attention to detail. And, from Ferguson, I bring great calm in managing the group. But I have had many good (coaches).
“I think of Mancini and Allegri.”
There are, perhaps, similarities with Xabi Alonso. The former World Cup winner honed his understanding of the game alongside Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Vicente del Bosque and Rafael Benitez, and now has Bayer Leverkusen one win away from their first ever Bundesliga title.
Tevez, too, is hoping to make a name for himself as a head coach on this side of the Atlantic.
Argentine legend has eyes on Serie A return
“I had an excellent career as a player. I would like to do it as a coach too,” adds the three-time Premier League winner, who’s memory among Man United fans will always be tainted by that move across the city over a decade ago.
“I like (coaching) a lot and I didn’t think I could get so passionate about it. I think very much about Italy. Who knows if there will be an opportunity in the future?”
Tevez missed out on a move to AC Milan before joining Juventus back in 2013. The 40-year-old is not ruling out the prospect of ending up at the San Siro eventually, however, albeit in a very different role.
“I had (the chance to) go to Milan,” Tevez adds. “But it didn’t depend on me. Then, every time I played with Milan I did very well.
“Who knows? We might cross paths with Milan again. Maybe as a coach…”