Jose Mourinho has the experience and character to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United should the Scot choose to retire, Rio Ferdinand says.

Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, is now in charge at Internazionale – United's opponents in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Ferdinand told GQ magazine there were "very few" people who could handle taking over from the 67-year-old Ferguson, but the Portuguese had the right character to manage United.

"If you're talking about someone with the ego and personality to do it, then Jose Mourinho is the name that jumps out at you," the England defender said.