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As tumultuous clapping resonates across Old Trafford these days, foggy and grey clouds cover Jose Mourinho's future.
Manchester United have had a shocking start to the season by losing two games already, one of them away at Brighton and the latest draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where chances came in plenty, has been met with outrage as well.
More disturbingly so, all the other major rivals are pulling ahead with Chelsea and Liverpool starting off the season perfectly followed by Manchester City who are finding their rhythm too.
As Mourinho vividly spoke about football heritage last year, in one of the conferences he also made it clear that he would build the team for the next manager and that is one of his most important goals.
Credit to the Portuguese obviously that he's roped in players and changed the squad completely but Manchester United have gone half a decade without bossing England and such feat is ill-suited to one of the most successful clubs on the English soil.
On numerous occasions during the pre-season, it looked like Mourinho was left fuming with the work of Ed Woodward and towards the end of the transfer window, it did seem evident that the club missed out on one major transfer target at least and Mourinho was unhappy with it.
Even though he had no option but to continue, the fact that the board did not aid their manager in the window especially after giving him a new contract last season throws light on whether the board really trusts the manager.
Considering that Jose Mourinho has a history with third seasons too, it will be no surprise if the season is long and hurtful for the red devils.
With no identity so far and with a footballing quality that is so unsatisfactory, United might expect something worse and in case the alarm sirens do ring, here are five managerial candidates the club can consider if Jose Mourinho's regime goes rogue and awry.
#1 Zinedine Zidane
No person in the world would have ever expected Zinedine Zidane to become such a successful coach in such a short period but that's how it is.
The Frenchman is the first manager in the entire history to win the Championship League three times in a row and no other manager has ever won three in their entire stint.
Taking Real Madrid to nine major titles in his reign, Zidane established an identity of his own where the winning formula heavily relied on team spirit and the attitude rather than tactical brilliance.
His 4-3-3 teased and battered teams in the Champions League while he also lead his team to a forty game unbeaten streak setting a new club record.
In Zidane's 149 matches with the men in white, his team lashed out 393 goals which are a testimony to the football his side can generate.
Manchester United have needed an attacking identity and they certainly need a consistent winning formula and the club can turn their eyes on this Frenchman because he certainly has caught the attention of the world.
#2 Diego Simeone
After being appointed in 2011 at Atletico De Madrid, Diego Simeone has built a terrific reputation for himself.
Enthusiasm and passion shape his sideline's antics along with his nature to rap out orders constantly but just like how he has a loud voice, his achievements speak loudly too.
Europa League triumph in his very first season was quickly followed by Copa Del Rey and UEFA Super Cup victories in the next season as he was building a team of his own.
Under the leadership of several senior players like Gabi and Diego Godin, Atletico marched ahead and painted the city of Madrid in their colours as they surpassed Barcelona on the final day and conquered La Liga.
Two Champions League finals did end on a dismal note but the Los Colchoneros got their second Europa League victory where Simeone's statistics went viral after a victory over Marseille last campaign.
Till the end of that season, the Argentinian had led his side to eight finals, six trophies and in 377 games, he had won 233 times by keeping 200 clean-sheets which is absolutely massive.
The football Simeone plays is distinct and resolute and it is framed with rigidity and sustenance and even though it's not fully attacking, it does yield fantastic results as his record shows. Manchester United can certainly think over him.
#3 Mauricio Pochettino
Favouring a high press and an attacking style of football, ever since his rise from Southampton after Espanyol, Pochettino has come a long way with his Tottenham team.
He's not only changed the dynamic of the team but he's also built a very good offensive team that has troubled and broken the tag of big four in England and Spurs can now proudly state that they are a part of the big six.
Unfortunately for Pochettino, his work does not transmit into titles and in-spite of coming close to winning the title on two different occasions, they were hindered and left without a major trophy due to Leicester and Chelsea respectively.
Employing a very functional 4-2-3-1, the Argentinian makes his team build from the back and that is followed up by rapid movement and a good amount of switching of flanks before the side converts the ball into a goal.
Without the ball, quick press and aggression are key to winning the ball back. Apart from his tactics, Pochettino has been hailed by many to focus on the youth talent and his ability to promote players from the academy.
He is a man of principles and hence it's clear that he will never manage any other London club but if there's one team that he stands a chance of managing again in England, it's Manchester United.
He made a long-term commitment when Real Madrid was searching for a manager but only time will tell where his true destiny lies.
#4 Massimiliano Allegri
After the resignation and the departure of Antonio Conte, Juventus needed stability and they got that from Allegri.
The reaction to his appointment was bitter but it has all turned into respect over the course of five seasons.
Having stayed in charge for over 225 games already, Allegri has won 161 of them but has lost only 30.
Having won the Scudetto four times in a row, Allegri has also won the Coppa Italia four times. He's reached two Champions League finals and both ended sadly but much of Allegri's praise comes from his tactical fluidity and the intelligence he posses to dig out wins and keep his team on a steady track.
After initially playing a back-three and building on Conte's tactics, Juventus switched a back four and became less intense in their pressing but their football follows a shrewd path in trying to exploit the territorial advantage and counter when needed.
He's experimented with several formations which include a back five, a back four and a back three and he's gone on to win in each of the seasons.
Another landmark achievement for Allegri is the fact that he has worked with 62 different players during his tenure and what is important to note here is that he's a very strong builder of his team and the side has transitioned into a major threat in-spite of losing key players over the course of time.
Manchester United can certainly eye to lure Allegri and no one can fault their decision if they choose to do so because the Italian is one of the best out there.
#5 Antonio Conte
This Italian needs no introduction but for those who've seen him at Juventus and Chelsea, Antonio Conte cuts across as a figure whose only idea is to "work, work and work".
Inflicting a superb legacy on Juventus which involved winning the scudetto three times, he also won the Coppa Italia twice and when he entered Stamford Bridge after his remarkable stint with the Italian national team, much was expected of him and he certainly did deliver.
In a tenure shaped with passion and commitment, Antonio Conte went on to become a fan favourite and he went on a superb streak of winning thirteen games in a row before their bitter rivals Tottenham ended it.
Conte won the Premier League in his very first season but his trouble with the board saw him leave at the end of the last campaign.
His tactical brilliance needs mentioning as well because he got stability and work-ethic in all his teams by playing with a fluid back-three and at times, an unorthodox 4-2-4.
His tenure with Chelsea saw him play an intelligent 3-4-3 which no team had the answer to until Pochettino defeated Conte's men and no team in England had gotten the back-three to work and Conte did it in his own style.
The Italian is without a job and Old Trafford might certainly seem like a delicious job for Antonio. If the board of Manchester United are ready to add him, he seems like a very good option for Manchester United to consider.
