Jose Mourinho’s standard third-year meltdown is in full flow, and it looks like the Manchester United top dogs are losing patience with their sullen manager.
Cameras honed in on an angry executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward following United’s 3-2 loss to Brighton on Sunday, and bookmakers have now installed Mourinho as the most likely Premier League manager to leave his post.
It’s thought that Woodward is considering former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as a replacement, after a turbulent summer in which Mourinho publicly called out the club’s board and his own players.
Mourinho, who has spent over £392 million over two years at Manchester United, complained in pre-season that the board had failed to properly invest in more outfield players.
He has also called out World Cup winner Paul Pogba, and the France midfielder recently revealed that, “There are things that I cannot say, otherwise I will get fined”. Rumours abound that the pair have fallen out over the manager’s public criticism.
For the time being, the 55-year-old Portuguese has received the board’s backing. A source told the BBC: "Why would we discuss Zidane when there is no job?"
As it stands, Zidane is at 2/1 to take over from Mourinho, who has made a habit of leaving clubs during his third year in charge over acrimonious circumstances.
He left Chelsea following a bust up with chairman Roman Abramovich and a poor start to the season, and clashed with many senior members of the Real Madrid squad in his final, trophy-less year at the Bernabeu.
He returned to Chelsea and won the league and league cup double in his second year, but was sacked in his third season after a woeful start and a controversial fall-out with club doctor Eva Carneiro.
Nick Pope is the Site Director of Esquire, overseeing digital strategy for the brand.
