Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Carlo Ancelotti is "one of the best managers the game has seen".
The Italian is currently without a club, but managed a Rest of the World side against Ferguson's Great Britain and Ireland team in a UNICEF charity game at Old Trafford this afternoon.
Ahead of the tie, Ferguson tipped Ancelotti to return to management before too long.
"Carlo Ancelotti is one of my good friends and also one of the best managers the game has seen," Ferguson told the Daily Mail. "He is a great guy and I think he'll be back in the game shortly, there is no doubt about that. People with that ability don't stay out of it for too long.
"Carlo has an unbelievable record in the European Cup both as a player and manager – winning it twice in both roles with AC Milan, as well as winning it again as a manager at Real Madrid.
"I don't think anyone else has done that so he's on a pedestal on his own in that respect."
Ancelotti has said that he would have "no problem" replacing Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, while he has also been linked with Manchester City.
