Former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane, has told the club to appoint Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid as their next manager.

Keane, speaking on ITV, said Simeone is the “right kind of character” for the Premier League.

United have had three permanent managers since Ferguson retired at the end of the 2013 season and, more recently, Ralf Rangnick was appointed as interim boss with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s permanent successor likely to be unveiled in the summer.

But nearly a decade on, United have never managed to build on Ferguson’s incredible legacy of 13 Premier League crowns.

But Keane is a big fan of Simeone who he admits is “having a difficult spell” in Spain.

The enigmatic Argentine has become known for whipping the crowd into a frenzy and his incredible powers of player motivation.

Speaking to the Mirror, Keane said: “You go and get the manager you want. You should go and get the right manager you think is right for your club.

“People say ‘oh, somebody’s tied up with a club’. But if you really want a manager – and that’s what it’s like when you really want a player – you go and get him.

“Never mind making excuses saying he’s not available for two years. You pay fortunes for players, so why not a manager?

“I don’t care who’s under contract; if you think he’s the right manager for Manchester United, well you go and get him.

“You go and pay the money whoever it might be. They’ve got to go and get the right manager.”

Keane namechecked Simeone as having the right character for United and pointed to his hard-line approach with the players as something the Red Devils could benefit from.

He said: “Maybe Simeone, he’s the right kind of character.

“He’s having a difficult spell with Atletico. His race has maybe been run with them.

“Simeone, go and get him, he’s a big character.

“He’s done great things. He’s a great character, a big personality. He doesn’t mess around with players. Maybe someone like him coming into the club could work.

“It can soon change. I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, there’s still good things going on at United, but they’ve got to get the manager.

“If the manager is not right, then the rest will just fall apart.”