David O'Leary believes Seamus Coleman is one of the best full-backs in Europe - and has revealed he was stunned Manchester United didn't snap up the Donegal man after Alex Ferguson retired.
Coleman was terrific in Everton's 2-1 defeat of Arsenal on Tuesday night, nodding in the equaliser and helping his side drive on to a morale-boosting victory.
Former Leeds United boss O'Leary - now working as an ambassador for his old club Arsenal - showered praise on the 28-year-old, and said he could have been a huge hit at Old Trafford.
I thought he was absolutely spot on for Manchester United
“Seamus Coleman has been as good a full-back as anyone for a long, long time," O'Leary told RTÉ 2fm's Game On.
"I was trying to push him Arsenal’s way but we had a young lad coming through, [Hector] Bellerin.
"I can’t believe a few years ago, particularly when Fergie went, Man United [didn’t sign him]. I thought he was absolutely spot on for Manchester United, the way they want to play, the way the lad plays.
"There’s not many in Europe better than him in my opinion."
O'Leary presided over a dizzyingly successful period for Leads in the late 90s and early noughties, bringing a young side studded with talent to the semi-finals of the Champions League and establishing them as one of the most exiting sides on the continent.
It ended in tears as Leeds' financial problems caught up with them spectacularly. They slid out of the top flight in 2004 and have yet to return, but O'Leary sees cause for optimism.
"It seems to be going in the right direction," he said.
"[Garry Monk] has got the results, he's bedded in now. I saw them against Liverpool [in the League Cup] on TV and I thought, 'that's a side that's going in the right direction now'.
"There's a long way to go because that's a tough league, but I'm hoping at least they get into the play-offs and from the play-offs you never know."
