France coach Laurent Blanc has admitted he "could be interested" in managing Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson retires, but stressed that until that day comes he is fully focused on his job with les Bleus.

Ferguson has been in the Old Trafford hotseat for 24 years and while he has not given any indication that he is set to call it a day soon, speculation persists about who his eventual successor will be.

The likes of Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho and Everton manager David Moyes are among those who have been tipped as possible replacements for Ferguson, and Blanc himself emerged as a possible candidate after guiding Bordeaux to the Ligue 1 title in2009.

And while Blanc, who marshalled United's defence for two years before retiring from playing, says he is currently concentrating on leading France to Euro 2012, he did not rule out putting himself forward to succeed Ferguson when the time comes.

"Sir Alex is the cornerstone of Manchester United," Blanc told Reuters. "He personifies Manchester's project, he's got this passion.

" It would be a very interesting, although a very tough challenge but maybe interesting if he is the one starting it [his replacement's process] with me or someone else. But I could be interested. ”