Candidates to the Old Trafford Succession #2: Jose Mourinho

BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Head coach Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid CF reacts during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Mdrid CF at Camp Nou.

Old Trafford hosts an average of seventy-four thousand supporters a game, year in, year out. In recent years, it has been home to geniuses like Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Old Trafford is a special stadium. The man who runs things there; even more special. Four European triumphs in his career, along with a plethora of League and Cup honours, marks Sir Alex Ferguson out as a particularly outstanding and successful managers.

So when we come to the point of discussion for a suitable manager to replace him, Manchester United deserve nothing but an equally established manager; someone who is very ‘special’ indeed. In which case, Jose Mourinho’s nickname does not let him down.

From being Sir Bobby Robson’s translator at Porto and Barcelona, ‘The Special One’ has come a long way. So long in fact, that it was Barcelona that he had beaten on his way to becoming the the first winner of domestic leagues in three different countries; the latest with Real Madrid.

The Man In The Shadows

Mourinho and Ferguson have had a relatively close and cordial relationship, what with the former addressing the latter as ‘boss’ and apparently giving him ‘paint-thinner’. Mourinho’s first two years at Chelsea were Ferguson’s worst ones in his long dictatorship at United. Two consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006, during which Ferguson was reduced to an ‘also-ran’ and finished third in each of the seasons. A clear indication of Mourinho’s strength and capabilities.

Of course, what followed for United and Chelsea is well known.

At Inter, Mourinho seemed to be overdoing himself, at least in terms of controversy, and he did not leave Italy bare-handed either. Or as he would have liked to put it, ‘zeru tituli’. Another two titles in two seasons, the second of which was the most decorated in the history of the club, and Inter became the first Italian club to win the European treble, a feat Mourinho had achieved for the second time.

Interestingly, Mourinho had quipped before his treble winning season, that he would consider succeeding Ferguson at United if United were to consider him :

“I would consider going to Manchester United but United have to consider if they want me to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson. If they do, then of course.”

At Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho has become less controversial and has given more thought to his words – although when he has not, no Comedy Central Special could have you in splits like the Portuguese – and his title win last year at Real only showed the formidable force he can be at his best, with 121 goals scored in the league, and the title secured with a record 100 points and a goal difference of 89.

Jose Mourinho looks like a great bet to inherit Ferguson’s legacy, and if he does, you can bet that he will build his own empire upon it. And as an added bonus, Cristiano Ronaldo might follow him to United too. United will never be short of controversy if the Special One is at the helm and I can already sense the Mancs licking their lips with relish at the prospect of Jose Mourinho performing his antics from the touchline at Old Trafford.

Keep calm and believe in United’s board and David Gill.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho, you just have to wait a little bit longer for #3. I might as well let you in on a clue – he has played for a club that beat Ferguson’s Aberdeen to the Scottish title in 1980.