Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson would be the ideal coach to lead a British soccer team at the 2012 London Olympic Games, organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe said yesterday.

Coe told BBC Radio Five Live he had discussed the issue with the 66-year-old Scot, who has said he will retire as Manchester United's manager within the next three years.

"I would love to have him there because he is a phenomenal coach and a great man manager. Who else would you want to have that mentoring role with Under-23 players for the build-up to the Games?" Coe said.

Britain has not competed in the men's Olympic soccer finals since 1960 and has never entered a women's team because of worries that the independent status of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within FIFA, world soccer's governing body, could be compromised in the future.

Although FIFA president Sepp Blatter has repeatedly said that their status would not be undermined by a British team taking part in 2012, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland FAs are opposed to the idea of entering teams.

Blatter said earlier this year that one way around the problem could be if only English players were selected for the squad. FIFA also said in 2005 that, as host nation, Britain had to enter teams in the 2012 Games.

Coe said he had had a few conversations with Ferguson but added: "I stress it is for the British Olympic Association and the Football Association to make that judgment and I leave it with them."

During his time at United, Ferguson has won 10 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups, two Champions League titles, the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup.