Aston Villa declined Sir Alex Ferguson’s recommendation for the successor to Remi Garde who left his post in March by mutual consent.
The 13-time Premier League winning manager was reported to have recommended his Old Trafford successor David Moyes after Villa’s chief executive Keith Wyness sought the advice of the former Manchester United boss.
However, as it turned out, the Villans decided to look elsewhere with Wyness admitting the choice of Roberto Di Matteo was the chairman’s decision.
“I still hold a connection with Sir Alex from our shared time at Aberdeen,” Wyness told the Mirror.
“We were undertaking our research and he recommended a few managers to us.
“Sadly for Sir Alex, his first choice was discounted. Roberto’s appointment was very much the chairman’s decision. However, that’s no slight on Sir Alex. If you can speak to the best for their opinions, why wouldn’t you?”
Di Matteo was previously in charge of West Brom, Chelsea – who he guided to Champions League glory – as well as Schalke 04, and now has the unenviable task of returning Villa to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Last season the Birmingham-based club ended a 28-year stay in English football’s top-flight after they could only muster three wins across 38 games – their lowest ever total in a single campaign – in a season that was marred by a series of off-field incidents which impacted negatively on the club.
Chinese businessman Tony Xia recently acquired the club from previous owner Randy Lerner and has outlined a 10-year plan for Villa to establish themselves as a top-six Premier League side and become one of the three most well-known clubs worldwide.
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