Manchester United reportedly want their former defender Rio Ferdinand back at the club, not to play games for them on the field, but to help spearhead an Ajax-style coaching revolution in the Premier League outfit.
Plans are reportedly underway for a major overhaul of United's Academy set-up with manager Louis van Gaal at the centre of an initiative to instill a Dutch-like atmosphere with the club's approach to youth development.
And United would like Ferdinand, who currently plays as centre back for Queens Park Rangers, to re-join their staff once he quits playing in the summer, The Mirror reported.
Ferdinand had a distinguished twelve year career at Old Trafford spanning 455 games during which he won six Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup and League Cup.
Van Gaal's assistant Ryan Giggs, a long-standing teammate of Ferdinand's, believes that United should tap into the defender's knowledge and recruit him to the staff.
United's hierarchy want to go the Ajax route and recruit major former stars to be hands on with emerging young players of the future, the report added.
