Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Patrick Vieira, Nuno Espirito Santo, Fredrik Ljungberg and Carlo Ancelotti are among the candidates being linked to the Arsenal job

Patrick Vieira is the "right man" to become Arsenal boss, according to former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman.

Arsenal are starting their search for a new manager for only the second time in 23 years after sacking Unai Emery.

And ex-Gunners captain Vieira, now manager of Nice, could be a candidate.

"I am sure Arsenal fans would love Patrick to come back to the club. Knowing Patrick, I think he would be the right man," Seaman told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast.

"I knew what he was like as a player. I knew what he was like as a captain. He was a born leader and everybody knows that. Maybe go down that route instead of a tried and tested route."

Freddie Ljungberg, 42, is the caretaker boss but Seaman says he hopes his former team-mate does not get the job.

"This job is much bigger than what Freddie is used to at the moment," said the ex-England international.

"He has only just got into the coaching side of the game and he will be really avant-garde as a manager but while he is taking charge now, please try and get some sort of defensive formation sorted out."

What have Vieira and Ljungberg done in management so far? Who are the other candidates? BBC Sport takes a look.

Massimiliano Allegri

Current job: Unemployed

Previous teams managed: Aglianese, SPAL, Grosseto, Lecco, Sassuolo, Cagliari, AC Milan, Juventus

Major trophies won: 6 Serie A titles, 4 Italian Cups, 3 Italian Super Cups

The most successful manager on this list in recent years, the 52-year-old Italian won Serie A in all his five seasons with Juventus - with four of those titles part of domestic doubles - before leaving in May.

He also led Juventus to two Champions League finals, losing to Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017.

Allegri, who won a Serie A title with AC Milan as well, has never worked outside Italy before.

"I have heard Allegri mentioned," said Seaman. "He still has problems with the English language and that is another problem that Emery had. The way he came over and in the press, I used to see him on the sidelines when he was waving his arms and shouting and not many players were looking at him."

Nuno Espirito Santo

Current job: Wolves head coach

Previous teams managed: Rio Ave, Valencia, Porto

Major trophies won: None

Portuguese Nuno, 45, has built up a fantastic reputation in two and a half seasons with Wolves. He helped the West Midlands club to the Championship title in his first season, before guiding them into Europe for the first time since 1980 - playing some excellent football on the way.

In his first managerial job he led Rio Ave to two cup finals in Portugal, although they lost both - and into Europe for the first time. He has also managed Valencia - where he was replaced by Gary Neville after resigning - and Porto, although he is yet to win any major trophies.

Fredrik Ljungberg

Current job: Arsenal interim head coach

Previous teams managed: None

Major trophies won: None

Swede Ljungberg, 42, has the least managerial experience on this list - but the most Arsenal pedigree. He played 214 times for the Gunners, scoring 46 times, and winning two Premier League titles including their unbeaten 2003-04 campaign.

He is yet to manage a senior team, but has been manager of Arsenal's Under-15s and Under-23s - either side of a six-month spell as Wolfsburg assistant boss. He had been assistant to Emery since the summer - and steps up to take caretaker charge.

Mikel Arteta

Current job: Manchester City assistant coach

Previous teams managed: None

Major trophies won: None

The 37-year-old Spaniard was considered a certainty to get the Arsenal job when Arsene Wenger left in 2018 until their sudden appointment of Unai Emery.

Arteta played 150 times for Arsenal, captaining the side, before retiring and becoming assistant to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola - a job he has held since 2016.

Mauricio Pochettino

Current job: Unemployed

Previous teams managed: Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham

Major trophies won: None

The 47-year-old Argentine was sacked by Arsenal's arch-rivals Tottenham last week after five and a half years in charge - having transformed their fortunes. Spurs qualified for the Champions League four times under Pochettino, having only played in two European Cup campaigns in their history beforehand.

His teams play with a good footballing style, but he has yet to win a trophy as a manager - losing last season's Champions League final to Liverpool.

Video caption Arsenal are not in a 'good moment' - Unai Emery

Eddie Howe

Current job: Bournemouth manager

Previous teams managed: Burnley

Major trophies won: None

The 42-year-old Englishman is a legend at Bournemouth, having led them from the League Two relegation zone to becoming an established Premier League team.

His teams have a fantastic style of football but the only concern is he has yet to win a trophy or have success at another club - he had 18 unmemorable months at Burnley in between two spells at Bournemouth.

Rafael Benitez

Current job: Dalian Yifang manager

Previous teams managed: Real Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura, Tenerife, Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle

Major trophies won: Champions League, 2 Europa League/Uefa, 2 La Liga, FA Cup, Italian Cup, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Community Shield, Italian Super Cup

The 59-year-old Spaniard has won major trophies in three different countries - England, Spain and Italy, most famously winning the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool.

He left Newcastle at the end of the season and joined Dalian Yifang in China, but recently told BBC Sport he would like to return to the Premier League one day, with his family still living in England.

Carlo Ancelotti

Current job: Napoli manager

Previous teams managed: Reggiana, Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich

Major trophies won: 3 Champions Leagues, Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, FA Cup, Italian Cup, Spanish Cup, 3 Uefa Super Cups, 2 German Super Cups, Community Shield, Italian Super Cup

The 60-year-old Italian is one of only three men to win three European Cups as a manager. He has won major trophies in all of Europe's top five leagues - including an FA Cup with Chelsea.

He is under pressure at Napoli after seven games without a win - with problems between club president Aurelio de Laurentiis and the players creating headlines.

Erik ten Hag

Current job: Ajax head coach

Previous teams managed: Go Ahead Eagles, Utrecht

Major trophies won: Eredivisie, Dutch Cup, Dutch Super Cup

The 49-year-old Dutchman is a hot property after leading an exhilarating Ajax to the Champions League semi-final last season - his first full campaign in charge. They ended up winning the Dutch double.

He managed Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich's reserve team and Utrecht before joining Ajax - where he has an impressive win rate of 75% - in December 2017.

Brendan Rodgers

Video caption 'We're at the start of something special here' - Brendan Rodgers plays down speculation

Current job: Leicester City manager

Previous teams managed: Watford, Reading, Swansea, Liverpool, Celtic

Major trophies won: 2 Scottish Premierships, 2 Scottish Cups, 3 Scottish League Cups

The 46-year-old Northern Irishman has taken Leicester to second place in the Premier League after a run of six wins in a row in all competitions.

Guarantees good football and almost led Liverpool to the Premier League title before winning every Scottish trophy on offer and then leaving for Leicester. Would have to drop six places and 11 points down the table if he were to join Arsenal.

"One that really sticks out for me is Brendan Rodgers," said former Arsenal goalkeeper Seaman. "But would he trade that in for Leicester because of what he has created there?"

Patrick Vieira

Current job: Nice manager

Previous teams managed: New York City FC

Major trophies won: None

The 43-year-old Frenchman is an Arsenal legend, playing 371 times for the club and winning three Premier League titles. His first coaching job was with Manchester City's youth team before joining their sister club New York City in the MLS.

Moved to French side Nice at the start of last season but has yet to make a real impact and they sit three points above the relegation zone.