Mauricio Pochettino's appointment as Manchester United manager brings an interesting connection with the club's most successful era, with the Argentine having repeatedly expressed his admiration for former boss Sir Alex Ferguson

The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager was named United's new head coach on Friday, taking over at a club that has struggled to maintain a consistent identity since Ferguson retired in 2013.

Pochettino has previously made it clear that Ferguson was his biggest inspiration in management.

During a 2023 interview with Sky Sports, he was asked to name three Premier League managers he would have liked to play for. His response was simply Ferguson's name repeated three times.

His respect for the Scot goes beyond admiration from a distance. In 2017, while managing Tottenham, Pochettino had lunch with Ferguson and later described the meeting as an opportunity to spend time with someone he considered the greatest manager in football history.

That relationship could offer an interesting backdrop to his new assignment at Old Trafford, where successive managers have struggled to recreate the standards established under Ferguson.

United's search for a clear footballing identity has often divided opinion, particularly over whether the club should prioritise results or remain faithful to the attacking traditions associated with its successful years.

Pochettino arrives with experience of building competitive teams and a clear appreciation of Ferguson's legacy.

However, he will have to translate that admiration into performances and results on the pitch.

One of his major challenges will be developing a side that can dominate possession and break down defensive opponents, something that proved difficult for previous managers.

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