Who could Replace Jose Mourinho?

Prior to the second international break of the season, Manchester United escaped with three points following a late comeback against Newcastle United. While the Red Devils snatched a 3-2 win after going two goals down, it’s also felt that Jose Mourinho just about avoided the axe on the back of that result.

Under pressure since the start of the campaign, Mourinho may not be so lucky as his team face a tough away fixture and ironically, it could be his former club Chelsea who finally bring the curtain down on his Old Trafford career.

Chelsea Blues?

The squads may look evenly matched but their contrasting starts to the season mean that Chelsea go into that match as odds-on favourites in bet365’s football betting markets to inflict more misery on their former boss. Irrespective of whether they follow through, Manchester United’s owners have to decide on Mourinho’s future but the club’s issues mask a wider struggle.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have worked their way through three managers in David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. Three significant trophies have been won but the Premier League eludes the club and that’s where, ultimately, Manchester United will be judged.

Front Runner

Since 2013, those three managers have taken their place in a dugout that Ferguson occupied for 27 years. A section of supporters are keen for the club to end the Mourinho era but, if the Special One can’t do an adequate job at Old Trafford, who can?

The favourite to succeed Jose is Zinedine Zidane, a man who enjoyed plenty of success with the mighty Real Madrid. However, while the Frenchman steered Real’s dominance of the Champions League, performances in La Liga were inconsistent. After a break from the game, Zidane may relish the chance to step into the Old Trafford hot seat but there are more experienced alternatives.

Unlikely Options?

Behind Zidane, there is some support in the markets for Antonio Conte, who won everything domestically with Juventus before crossing to England and claiming the Premier League with Chelsea. Despite a subdued second season in west London, Conte remains in demand but would United take a man who would essentially follow Mourinho’s path from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford?

Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino is also being talked about and, while Spurs fans would see any move as a betrayal, the former Southampton boss may be frustrated over the club’s stadium delays and a complete lack of investment in the squad over the summer.

United also have the option to promote from within in the case of former player and current coach Michael Carrick while there are also mentions for Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers, Carlo Ancelotti and Joachim Low, amongst many others.

There are some exceptional names in that list but only Zidane and Conte seem readily available, so perhaps Manchester United will be tempted to stick with the (red) devil they know and keep faith with Mourinho for now. His team have started 2018/19 with mixed form but the combined efforts of three managers over five years just serve to underline how hard an act Sir Alex Ferguson was to follow.