There were a lot of potential managers in the Arsenal team that Patrick Vieira captained but he, more than anybody, looked destined to be a top boss. His star quality was obvious from the start. If Manchester City do end up sacking Manuel Pellegrini then there is already one man at the club who would happily take over, if asked. Patrick wants to be a manager. He is intelligent, well-balanced and has a burning desire to win. He was a ferocious competitor on the pitch but off it he is a class act. Patrick Vieira could be next in line to replace Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium . City manager Pellegrini faces a nervous wait to see if he keeps his job this summer . (L-R) Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and James Milner look dejected during the 4-2 Manchester derby defeat . He will feel slightly uncomfortable being linked to the top job. Not because he doesn’t want it but because Pellegrini is still in charge. Patrick has always been respectful. I met him for a tour of City’s new training ground recently and the respect he commands at that club is incredible. He has an aura about him — when he enters a room, people pay attention. At Arsenal, Tony Adams was a very visual captain on the pitch but behind the scenes Patrick always had plenty to say. Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown (right) recently met his former team-mate at City's new training ground . Vieira was a captain who led by example during the pair's time together at Highbury . The World Cup winning Frenchman finished his playing career at Manchester City . Read Sportsmail's verdict on the Manchester derby between United and City . When he took over as captain he would hold team meetings without Arsene Wenger and was never afraid to speak his mind. He is not afraid to take on big personalities — that’s because personalities don’t come much bigger than Patrick’s. He did not shout and scream — he was always calm and spoke with real authority. He never wanted to make rash decisions and is such a solid, reliable character. That’s why he will make a fantastic manager one day. From the first day I met him at Arsenal, Patrick has remained respectful and likeable. Nothing has changed. He is a model professional but he has the personality and presence to take charge in a dressing-room full of big egos. That’s exactly what City need. He has worked with some of the best managers in the business — Arsene Wenger, Fabio Capello, Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho. There’s no doubt he will have been studying those men to see how they operate so he can absorb their wisdom and use it to his advantage. But Patrick won’t just try to emulate them, he is very much his own man. Vieira has learned from top managers including Jose Mourinho, Fabio Capello and Arsene Wenger (above) Pep Guardiola stepped up from coaching Barcelona reserves to become the youngest manager to win the Champions League . City did well to identify his talents and get him involved with the youth set-up. But he has not been killing time with the Under 21s. Everything he does is with an eye on one day becoming a manager. Moving from the youth team to a senior side expected to win the title is a big step but Pep Guardiola made the same leap at Barcelona. It can be done. It would be a huge challenge and one that Patrick would relish. It may be that he has to go elsewhere to perfect his craft before returning to City. Either way, Vieira has all the tools needed to succeed in the hot seat.
Manuel Pellegrini's position has come under scrutiny at Manchester City . Patrick Vieira is in charge of the  champion's Elite Development Squad . The former Arsenal star is well equipped to become a top manager .