It doesn’t take an expert to understand that Jose Mourinho has put together something of a pattern with previous clubs.
The 53-year-old has never lasted longer than three seasons at any club which could send alarm bells ringing in the heads of Manchester United fans following the news that Mourinho is set to take over from the departing Louis van Gaal.
Will the Portuguese change his club-hopping ways at Old Trafford? United legend Phil Neville is not so sure.
Neville, who made almost 400 appearances for the Red Devils before working in a coaching capacity under David Moyes, reckons that Mourinho will stay at United for a maximum of three years before moving on once more.
“I can’t see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years, that seems to be his shelf life at a football club,” Neville said on BBC Five Live’s Sportsweek.
“When Jose finishes at a club it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips.
“It happened at Chelsea, it certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players.
“It’s a pattern with Jose, he comes into a club, he gets success but he doesn’t stay for too long.”
But while Neville may not be convinced about his longevity, the former full back believes Mourinho is the ideal candidate for the job.
Mourinho has won trophies in all countries in which he’s managed and was never more successful than he was during his pair of spells with Chelsea when he delivered three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups.
“He’s a proven winner, a proven champion. United fans want a team that will challenge for the league title, not a team that finishes seventh or fifth, and Jose is probably the man for the job,” Neville said.
“Knowing Jose as I do, I think he will have done his homework and he’s meticulous in his planning.
“Don’t be surprised if United in the next month, and particularly before the Euros, sign three or four players and when he gets to pre-season he has his squad already in place.
“He knows who he wants and at the start he will demand United sign those players for United to become championship challengers again.”
