Jose Mourinho is tired of waiting around.
“The Special One” obviously isn’t “The Patient One” as he switches his attention to nailing down a new job in the coming weeks.
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The Portuguese boss has now been without a gig since last December when he was fired as Chelsea’s manager and a report from the Guardian claims he want his next position to be finalized at the start of May.
So, in about four weeks.
Despite constant speculation linking Mourinho with a move to Old Trafford, the Guardian -- and many others -- believes no formal offer has arrived from the Red Devils. However, many close to Mourinho still believe he will end up managing Manchester United this summer.
Mourinho and his representatives have, so far, been content to play a waiting game as Louis van Gaal (one of his mentors) continues to steer United towards the top four of the Premier League and they are still in the FA Cup. However, Mourinho’s patience is wearing thin, per the report. But remember, Mourinho did say he will begin his next job in July.
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So what’s happened there, Jose? More from the Guardian’s Jamie Jackson, below.The Premier League’s unpredictability means United appear likely to take their challenge to finish in the top four until the end of the season in mid-May. If so Van Gaal is likely to remain as manager until then, even if Woodward decides he wants a change for next term.
Yet by that juncture Mourinho would hope to have had a clear approach from United. In that event a pre-contract agreement may be signed before any Van Gaal departure.
The fact that United have yet to make any move for Mourinho suggests that executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is clearly undecided on the former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and FC Porto manager. That ties in with reports that United’s hierarchy (senior figures such as Sir Bobby Charlton included) do not want Mourinho in charge due to his sideline and off-the-field antics.
That and the fact that Woodward has backed his man, Van Gaal, numerous times over the past 18 months since he took charge of United appears to be slowing the Mourinho-to-United process down.
It’s clear that when a manager of Mourinho’s caliber comes on the market -- despite the dreadful way his Chelsea side started this campaign and the entire Eva Carneiro situation -- and a club like United continues to struggle to emulate past glories, then people will do the math and assume the legendary Portuguese boss will take over from LVG in due course.
Van Gaal, 64, has one more year left on his contract at United and unless they make the top four -- they currently sit just one point off fourth-placed Manchester City with eight games to go -- and win the FA Cup this season it is highly unlikely he will remain in charge.
Will United’s directors go behind LVG’s back and line up Mourinho in the next few weeks? It seems like they might have to if they don’t want to risk losing Mourinho.