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From Beckham to Ferguson: What Manchester United legends said about Mourinho

Jose Mourinho continues to divide opinion at Old Trafford

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English soccer's biggest club seem to have secured the services of the sport's most colourful manager after Jose Mourinho, according to Sky TV reports, agreed personal terms with Manchester United on Tuesday. After a trophy-laden career with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, Mourinho is set to replace Dutchman Louis van Gaal, who was sacked on Monday, with a remit to bring back the glory days the club once took for granted under Alex Ferguson. The 53-year-old, sacked by Chelsea in December seven months after winning his third Premier League title at the London club over two spells, had been constantly linked with the United job as Van Gaal struggled to make an impression at Old Trafford.


But what do Manchester United legends think of Mourinho? Here are some of their quotes:

Paul Scholes on United signing Mourinho in May 2016:

(Paul Scholes) Getty Images 

“We all thought Van Gaal was a good fit two years ago and it didn't quite happen for him. Mourinho has obviously managed big clubs before. Now he has come to a proper big club and there is expectation there. He has messed around with these Mickey Mouse clubs - Real, Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan - and now it looks like he is coming to a proper football club. I'm only joking, of course! He has managed big clubs and he has got a track record of winning trophies. United should be challenging for trophies but it is the style of football that has been the big problem for the last two years and if he can get players in that are likely to entertain then the fans will be happy."

Sir Bobby Charlton on Mourinho poking Tito Vilanova in the eye, Dec 2012:

Bobby Charlton (Getty Images) 

"A United manager wouldn't do that. Mourinho is a really good coach but that's as far as I would go really."

Eric Cantona on Jose taking over as Manchester United manager in May 2016:


Eric Cantona (Getty Images) 

 “I love his personality, I love the passion he has for the game, his humour. He is very intelligent, he demands 100 per cent of his players. And of course he wins things. “But I don’t think it’s the type of football that the fans of Manchester United will love, even if they win. He can win with Manchester United. But do they expect that type of football, even if they win? I don’t think so.”

Roy Keane on Jose Mourinho after the former tried to shake his hand before the match ended in Oct 2014

Roy Keane (Getty Images) 

"I don’t mind all that [Mourinho mind games] but the game is still going on It’s disgraceful, I’ve seen him doing it to other managers, it is a disgrace. The game is still going on. You wouldn’t do that on a Sunday morning, you would get knocked out. He plays too many mind games but that’s fine. That’s up to himself. He’ll argue all day he can back it up with trophies. Of course, he can. But it helps when you’ve got players worth £300 million."

 Steve Bruce on Jose Mourinho in March 2016:

"Listen, Jose Mourinho is, without doubt, bordering on greatness. When you talk about the great managers, he will be one of them."

  Denis Law on the possibility of Mourinho joining United, May 8, 2011:

"Not the way he wants the game played. They wouldn't put up with that at Old Trafford. They want to see United attacking people."

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

​Mourinho and Ferguson (Getty Images) 

'I remember his first press conference (at Chelsea, in 2004) and I thought: 'Christ, he's a cocky bastard, him'. He was telling the players: 'Look, I'm the special one, we don't lose games'. Bloody hell, coming to England, he is only a young man and saying he is the special one. But it told all the players to have the belief they were going to win the league.'

David Beckham after Mourinho was sacked in 2015 by Chelsea:

Beckham (Getty Images) 

 'Unfortunately this is how football is, but there is no disputing that Jose is one of the best managers in football. Winning the league obviously last year, virtually the same squad this year – it is obviously surprising to see their league position. But I love Jose, I think he is an incredible manager, a great person and he is passionate about the game.

 Rio Ferdinand on Mourinho in Feb 2016

 
Rio Ferdinand (Getty Images) 

“That can't afford to happen at Man United. The problem they've got now is who they choose. 'Are they going to go for someone who has had success, who knows how to manage teams like Jose
Mourinho, or will they go with someone who is already in the house like Ryan Giggs? 'That's the problem they have got and the questions that have to be asked. If I knew the answer to that question, I would be the CEO.”

 

 

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