Jose Mourinho tipped to replace Van Gaal at Manchester United

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been made the bookies’ favourite to take on the managerial mantle at Manchester United.

The Portuguese, sacked by Chelsea on Thursday, December 17, was known to have a soft spot for United.

Mourinho wanted to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson who retired from Old Trafford in 2013, media reports stated.

The 52-year-old is heavily favoured with both BetVictor (11/10) and Paddy Power (6/5), the only two bookies who are currently offering odds.

The other top managers tipped for the job are Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola and Gary Neville (shortest odds at 3/1). Italian Carlo Ancelotti attracted an odd of 4/1.

The Old Trafford club considered Mourinho, who eventually returned to Chelsea, but instead appointed David Moyes who lasted a disastrous nine months in charge.

Manchester United’s board of directors were reportedly worried that the Portuguese is ‘too difficult to control’.

The ‘special one’ is said to have cried when he found out he would not land managerial position at the Manchester club.

Former Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson said Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would be foolish to sack Mourinho in the middle of the season, calling him “one of the best coaches of all time”.

“I think he has sacked so many coaches in the last 10 years that I am sure he has learned by it. (Abramovich) has to trust and have confidence José can turn it around, there is no point in sacking one of the best coaches of all time,” said Ferguson on December 7.

“(Mourinho) has won the European Cup twice, he’s won the league in each country he’s managed in, he’s won the big trophies. It would be foolish for him to take that step to sacking him. That would be bad management; it is not leadership, that,” added Ferguson.

United’s current boss Louis van Gaal has been in charge of the club since the summer of 2014 and led the Red Devils back to Champions League football last season.

The Dutchman has nonetheless spent close to £300million during his time at the club, with no huge improvement in United’s style of play.

The club crashed out of the Champions League at the group stages last week – into the Europa League – while Van Gaal continues to receive reproof for the way the team plays.

Manchester United have scored just three goals in the last six matches at Old Trafford and 21 in 16 Premier League matches this season – surprise league leaders Leicester City have scored 34 in an equal number of PL matches.