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  "path": "/2026/02/09/former-arsenal-captain-backed-become-manchester-united-manager-26781747/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-09T22:33:08.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Manchester United",
    "Michael Carrick",
    "Premier League",
    "Robin Van Persie",
    "Ruben Amorim",
    "Ruud Gullit",
    "Arsene Wenger",
    "completed a controversial move to Manchester United in 2012",
    "Old Trafford",
    "Alex Ferguson",
    "Ballon d’Or",
    "Sign up here",
    "been at Dutch giants Feyenoord since the start of 2025",
    "Gambling Insider",
    "sacking the Portuguese boss last month",
    "placed in temporary charge of United and has overseen four successive wins",
    "beat ten-man Tottenham 2-0 on Saturday",
    "could only draw 1-1 with West Ham when the two teams last met",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
    "Twitter",
    "Instagram",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Manchester United are searching for Ruben Amorim’s replacement (Picture: Getty)\n\nRuud Gullit has backed former Arsenal captain Robin van Persie to manage Manchester United ‘at some point’.\n\nVan Persie established himself as one of Arsenal’s greatest ever goalscorers after being signed by Arsene Wenger in 2004.\n\nThe Netherlands international scored 132 goals in 278 games for the Gunners, including Arsenal’s most in a Premier League season and calendar year.\n\nAfter a breakdown in his relationship with Arsenal bosses, Van Persie completed a controversial move to Manchester United in 2012 and enjoyed three productive seasons at Old Trafford.\n\nHis 30-goal campaign in his first year at United helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s side win the Premier League title and saw him bag a second consecutive Golden Boot award.\n\nAs an integral member of the last Manchester United side to lift the Premier League trophy, Van Persie is still remembered fondly at Old Trafford.\n\nHis compatriot Gullit, a former Ballon d’Or winner, believes Van Persie has developed into a ‘great manager’ since hanging up his boots and ‘hopes’ he takes charge of the Red Devils ‘one day’.\n\n##  Get your football fix\n\nDon't want to miss the week's biggest football stories? **Metro's** exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.\n\nFrom the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nFormer Arsenal captain and Man Utd striker Robin van Persie (Picture: Getty)\n\nVan Persie, 43, began his managerial career at Eredivisie side Heerenveen and has been at Dutch giants Feyenoord since the start of 2025.\n\n‘It would be great if Robin van Persie became the manager of Manchester United in the future,’ Gullit told Gambling Insider. ‘I definitely hope that happens at some point!\n\n‘Robin is a great manager, but he’s struggling a little bit at Feyenoord at the moment. I feel like the expectations for him are very high because of the career he had, so he’s under the spotlight a lot more than other managers in the Eredivisie.\n\nManchester United caretaker boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘He’s under fire over here in Holland at the moment, but I hope he’s given time to rectify it and prove how good he is.\n\n‘Look what happened with Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United – they kept him, and look how good he ended up being!\n\n‘Down the line however, I think it would be great for Robin to manage at Old Trafford one day.’\n\nManchester United will appoint Ruben Amorim’s permanent replacement in the summer after sacking the Portuguese boss last month.\n\nMichael Carrick was placed in temporary charge of United and has overseen four successive wins to take the club back into the Champions League places.\n\nManchester United beat ten-man Tottenham 2-0 on Saturday and return to Premier League action on Tuesday night against relegation-battlers West Ham.\n\nUnited could only draw 1-1 with West Ham when the two teams last met in one of Amorim’s last games before his sacking.\n\n**For more stories like this,check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook, **Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments  Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source ",
  "title": "Former Arsenal captain backed to become Manchester United manager"
}