As hard as this is to believe, one day, Sir Alex Ferguson will not be manager of Manchester United. Even the unrivalled Scotsman known simply as Sir Alex or Fergie has a limit. And while the 71 year old looks all but certain to preside over yet another title win this season it’s fair to assume that his trophy-laden career at Manchester United is much closer to the end than it is the beginning.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, one José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix, or José Mourinho to you and I, sits contemplating his next move. His future with Real Madrid looks uncertain as relationships with key players seem stretched and it will surprise no one if José moves on again this summer.
Chelsea, seemingly his spiritual home, appear the most likely destination for the Portuguese, while Paris St Germain are also suitors. Don’t completely rule out PSG by the way, they do possess two things that would appeal to Mourinho; a large cheque book and a league that he is yet to conquer.
But for a long time now the story that seems to appear on and off is the ‘Mourinho to replace Sir Alex’ story. It’s reared it’s head through the ever reliable medium of social networking just today.
For a long time now it has seemed logical to many that Mourinho would one day find his way into the hot-seat at Old Trafford. After all, arguably the biggest club in the world would be a natural fit for the biggest manager in the world, wouldn’t it?
Sir Alex’s reign has been so unreservedly successful that the most that the United board could ask for would be more of the same. And success is a guarantee with Mourinho. Trophies in Portugal, Italy, Spain and of course England. And not just minor trophies, we’re talking multiple league and Champions League medals.
But Mourinho, I can assure you, is not the man to take over at Old Trafford.
When I say that the United board would want more of the same once Sir Alex’s time is up, I mean it. But trophies are not all that would constitute ‘the same’. Manchester United spent years when they first appointed Sir Alex, (then just known as Alex) laying the ground work, the infrastructure, of what would one day become a hugely successful regime. But this included four trophy-less years before Fergie won his first United silverware, the FA Cup in 1990. Long term work for even longer term success was the philosophy of United.
This is not the José Mourinho way. Mourinho is all about the quick win, success as quickly as possible. Usually with the help of a large transfer budget. United are not opposed to some marquee signings themselves, but this is always to supplement the youth that the club has nourished from a young age.
It’s common knowledge that the players that Sir Alex has brought from ‘young up and comers’ to first team stars is unrivalled. Names like Beckham, Scholes, Welbeck, Cleverley, Evans and of course Ryan Giggs. All league winners and full internationals.
The same list under José Mourinho’s watch is non-existent. Even if he has made the effort to bring young talent to whichever club he’s been at it is irrelevant, he hasn’t been there long enough to take these young players on from there anyway.
To date his longest managerial reign has been at Chelsea, just barely over three seasons. The pattern was similar before this with FC Porto (amongst others) and since with Inter Milan and Real Madrid as it is widely expected that this season, his third, will be his last at Santiago Bernabéu.
It's likely that Sir Alex won’t disappear quietly into the night. The likelihood is that he will move upstairs and have a big hand in choosing his successor. He will want to see his club placed lovingly into a secure pair of hands. He will want to ensure that United are seen alright for the long term. And it’s Mourinho’s trigger happy nature of choosing his employment which may be his undoing here, leaving room for a more stable option like Everton’s David Moyes perhaps.
The irony here is that, as seen at Liverpool with the sacking of Roy Hodgson and subsequent appointment of Kenny Dalglish, the pressure of having a bona fide club legend waiting in the wings can be too much to overcome. And perhaps the only character big enough to work with the sword of Damocles (that Ferguson would undoubtedly be) hanging over their head is Mourinho.
The links with United and Mourinho won’t end here. Until Sir Alex’s successor is one day appointed José will always be seen as an option for the United hierarchy and this story will crop up periodically. He isn’t the right man for the job, but then, maybe when the time comes he will still be the best man for the job.
Maybe though, it’s all irrelevant, as in ten years time who can honestly say that they would be shocked to see Sir Alex, still stood on that Old Trafford touchline, frantically chewing his gum and pointing at his watch.