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Possible Replacements For Sir Alex (Part 2/5) Mourinho & Moyes

Manchester United Jose Mourinho
Mourinho, now at Tottenham, is interested in Sanchez

Here are the first two managers that instantly came to mind as Sir Alex Ferguson’s replacement at United. Do these bright young well-respected managers have what it takes to make it at Old Trafford:

Jose Mourinho – Manager of Real Madrid

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho

It’s completely impossible to make such a list without the man formerly known as ‘the Special One’, so let’s start with the obvious. After successful spells at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, he’s faced a harder time in the Spanish capital, often denied trophies by the ‘all-mighty’ Barcelona. Nevertheless, his winning mentality is obvious to everyone, fuelled by his fantastic home-record as a manager.

Pros

This guy knows how to cope with pressure at the highest level. A Champions League trophy with Porto, instant Premier League glory at Stamford Bridge and Il Triplete with Internazionale proves that a winning-mentality is in stock.

This is a clearly a key attribute, as the media, pundits and most fans will judge the new United manager by looking at his amount of – or lack of – silverware brought to Old Trafford after one, two, five and ten seasons.

Other advantages that the Portuguese has is his tactical knowledge of the game and emphasizing of details. Such abilities can turn a tight and important game into United’s favour, and are obviously important and in terms of big-game scenarios more often than not he has made the right calls that have changed games.

Another point to add is the fact that if he and his ‘Galáctico II’ side wins the Primera División, Mourinho has won every one of the three biggest league championships after a nomad existence chasing silverware all across Europe.

He has a good friendship with Ferguson which could be a key part  in the process of selecting the new manager, and maybe Manchester is the place to settle, both for himself and his family? Additionally, he’s young (48 years old), and that’s no age for a manager, which opens the possibility of staying at Old Trafford for ten to fifteen years and becoming the third great in our history. 

Cons

El Mou has been under-fire for criticism of his way of play. Manchester United’s tradition is to entertain the Old Trafford faithful, and as winning trophies will be his main target, the degree of entertainment will have a chance to suffer and drop down on his priority list.

As well, he’s never been at a club for a significant long time, and another of United’s proud traditions – youth development – is also in the danger zone, as the Portuguese rarely has had time to focus on this part of a club. I doubt that a player like the United through-and-through Darren Fletcher would’ve been given chance after chance to finally clinch it under Mourinho’s leadership.

In my opinion, players like Darren are important to maintain our identity.
As well, I will put a question mark to Mourinho’s ability to sign English players. The home-grown rule will by some degree prevent him from going bananas by signing overseas players.

However what I fear is that the essential part the squad are Portuguese and Spanish, without United in their veins, and will be ready to leave if a Real Madrid or Barcelona offer is put on the table. English players are less likely to leave in that way and I fear a red side featuring too many foreign players if El Mou takes up the job.

David Moyes – Manager of Everton

The Glasgow-born Moyes has done a brilliant job in the blue part of Merseyside with a focus on English and home-grown players. He has maintained Everton’s position as a 5th-to-8th spot side, among the second best teams in the Premier League, with a main task (when hired in 2002) of avoiding relegation and limited resources in hand. 

Pros

In terms of youth development, Moyes has a great record of giving young players a chance and is right up there with Sir Alex and Martin O’Neil. Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman, Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell, are all young British players who have been given the chance to establish themselves as top footballers by the Scot.

In other words, Moyes isn’t afraid of giving youth the chance and that’s a good sign to have as a manager. You can maybe claim that the Everton manager has had limited options due to financial issues, but if the players mentioned weren’t good enough, the Toffees wouldn’t be as good as they actually are.

Moyes is also well-known for consistency, and seems to fancy a total settlement when he’s hired. Born in the same year (1963) as Mourinho, his age is perfect as well. Both experience and future are clearly words in the Scotsman’s dictionary. Additionally, he doesn’t live far from Manchester, and if his family will move, they’ll still remain in the same part of the country, which means adjustment to a new culture isn’t needed.

Cons

The biggest disadvantage of the man who won the League Managers Association’s Manager of the Year Award in 2003, ’05 and ’09 is the lack of winning mentality. Grabbing the fourth spot in 2005 was a huge achievement for Everton, but that would be a major disappointment at Manchester United.

Possible Replacements For Sir Alex (Part 1/5)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola urges Manchester United to hire 'incredible' Erik ten Hag as their next boss .

Possible Replacements For Sir Alex (Part 3/5) O’Neill & Guardiola