Jose Mourinho's ability to game-plan and methodically grind out results makes him a popular choice when managerial positions come open, and with Sir Alex Ferguson hinting that the 2010-11 season might be his last at Manchester United, the doors could swing wide open to invite Mourinho to Old Trafford.
James Olley of the London Evening Standard feels that despite Mourinho's record, he might not be the best fit at Old Trafford. Where his CV would meet the expectations and standards at Manchester United, there are questions about the aesthetic expectations at United, and whether 'The Special One' could meet them.
Succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United is just about the tallest order in modern day football but if the club are to stay true to their traditions, they must resist the obvious choice in Jose Mourinho.
Logic dictates the brash Portuguese would be the ideal candidate to replace Sir Alex, who has reportedly suggested this week that he will end a 25-year association with United at the end of next season, a few months before his 70th birthday.
Mourinho has the raw arrogance and unswerving conviction in his methods to drag the club out from under the shadow of the greatest British manager of all time and into a new era.
Equally his CV makes impressive reading with League titles in three countries and of course that 2004 Champions League victory while in charge at FC Porto, the route to which included a stop in Manchester and an extremely fortuitous away goal win at Old Trafford.
Mourinho has excellent knowledge of the English lead, a demeanour that would command instant respect in the dressing room and an ability to influence referees through mind games or otherwise in a manner that Ferguson has trademarked, which most obviously manifests itself in the added time (or Fergie time') United are renowned for receiving.
But United are one of the most successful teams in history and the fact such success has come recently means they occupy a place in an extremely small strata of clubs who can choose how they want to win.
Arsene Wenger operates such a philosophy at Arsenal (although the pressure to abandon his principles will intensify after a fifth trophyless season), Real Madrid have their galaticos, Barcelona their purity and in choosing Ferguson's successor, United can prove they too are “més que un club”.
Sir Bobby Charlton once claimed United's ideals, which extended as far back as he could remember, was to provide entertainment for the working man who grafted all week to afford to see his heroes play.
United have a history of cavalier football and Ferguson took on those mores and applied a winning mentality that had been largely missing since the days of Charlton, George Best and Denis Law.
The swashbuckling Treble winning side of 1999 swept all before them in glorious fashion and although Ferguson's preferred 4-2-3-1 system in big matches has made them less expansive, United continue to be regarded alongside Arsenal as the finest footballing side in the Premier League.
Mourinho is the antithesis of all this. If only his football matched his press conferences. His teams have a functional style that is awkwardly juxtaposed with United's hallmarks while his record in bringing through young players is virtually non-existent.
For me, aesthetics is a secondary item after results...and no one would be more fitting at maintaining that standard at Old Trafford than Jose Mourinho.
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