Roy Keane has set his sights on becoming the next Old Trafford manager.
The 31-year-old has retired from international football with the Republic of Ireland with a serious hip problem that he says might force him to hang his boots up sooner rather than later.
Speaking of his management ambitions, Keane said "It's something I've thought about and it's certainly something that appeals to me," Keane told United's television channel MUTV.
"I've been fortunate to work under two of the game's great managers, in Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson, and the thought of being manager of Manchester United would be fantastic.
"It's a challenge that would really appeal to me, but I think the current manager will be here for a few years yet." Keane plans to use the intervening years to gain the qualifications he will require for the job.
"I'm hoping to take my coaching badges in the next year or two while I'm still playing."
But he warned his team-mates that nobody's job will be safe if they do not win a trophy this season.
"If things don't go to plan will have to face the music. Maybe I will have to become a bit nasty again," he threatened.
United lost the League Cup final to Liverpool on Sunday, and a second consecutive trophyless year now looms large for manager Alex Ferguson.
Arsenal are eight points clear at the top of the Premiership table, leaving the Champions League as United's best chance of winning a competition this season.
Keane has been a shadow of his former self since returning from injury and has also attempted to curb his aggression, but he might revert to being a bad guy if United do not start winning.
Keane said United might have become predictable and lacked drive from midfield.
"If you look at the midfield maybe there is not enough running forward, getting into the box and supporting the forwards," he said. "Maybe we lack someone who can produce that moment of magic.
"In the past we have had Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs all capable of doing something but nobody seems to be producing that just now."
And he believes that Ferguson might shake the team up if they finish a second season without a title.
"We have seen a lot of great players leave here because the manager felt they weren't doing the business," he said.
"I know how upset the fans were last season and we don't want to go through that again."
AFP