Manchester United's legendary European Cup winning goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has said that he feels only a former Manchester United player can eventually succeed manager Sir Alex Ferguson when he finally steps down from the Old Trafford hotseat.

The big Dane won the European Cup with United in 1999 under Ferguson and has put forward former team-mates Mark Hughes, now manager at Blackburn Rovers, and Roy Keane, the current Sunderland manager, as possible replacements for Ferguson when the time comes.

Replacing Sir Alex will be the toughest task United's owners will ever face, somewhat akin to the then owners having to replace Sir Matt Busby at the club in the mid-1970s and whether it's a former playing hero like Hughes, Bruce or Keane or a big name outsider like Scolari, Lippi or Mourinho, it'll be the toughest job in world football, regardless of whether Ferguson takes his current United charges onto 2008 UEFA Champion's League glory next month or not.

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