5 possible replacements for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United

Manchester United fans wanted Jose Mourinho when Sir Alex Ferguson retired but they had to contend with ex-Everton boss David Moyes. The Red Devils subsequently went through a tough period under Moyes and his successor Louis van Gaal.

United finally got the 'Special One' when van Gaal was sacked in 2016 and a lot was expected from the man who has won trophies with every team he has managed. In came Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However, United finished 6th in the Premier League, though they managed to lift the League Cup and the Europa League.

2017/18 started brightly for the team but United have lacked the cutting edge and have sort of turned into a boring outfit under the Portuguese manager.

After a year and a half in charge, Jose Mourinho has failed to transform the United side who have collected just 4 points more than what they managed last season after the same number of games played.

It may be a little too soon to talk about his sacking but we cannot completely ignore the possibility. On that note, Let's have a look the possible candidates to replace Jose Mourinho...

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#5 Leonardo Jardim (AS Monaco)

AS Monaco v Juventus - UEFA Champions League Semi Final: First Leg

He may not have hit the headlines like Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola, but Jardim, in his own right, has done really well at Monaco.

Jardim led Monaco to their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years – and, in doing so, toppled the mighty PSG side that seemed domestically invincible. He masterminded the transformation of Monaco into one of Europe’s most exciting units and got the better of Pep and Thomas Tuchel in the Champions League which showed his ability to win big European games.

Leonardo Jardim is exactly the type of manager Manchester United needs. Monaco produced a lot of entertaining football last season and averaged almost 3 goals per game, thanks to the offensive approach of Jardim.

#4 Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspurs)

The Premier League has been very appreciative of Pochettino's efforts so far

Mauricio Pochettino is one of the most sought-after managers in European football. According to various news outlets, Pochettino is already on the radar of the French giants PSG.

Pochettino has been linked with Manchester United ever since Louis van Gaal was in charge of the Red Devils. United fans desperately want a manager who emphasizes on high-pressing, attacking style of football and Pochettino can give it to them every week.

His willingness to trust and promote youngsters, along with the ability to nurture individual talents will be welcomed at Old Trafford.

His 4-2-3-1 formation offers a fluid football that United fans are craving for. He would be a perfect fit for United job but the possibility looks less likely at the moment.

#3 Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)

Simeone has worked wonders with his Atleti team

One of the most consistent managers in European football, Simeone led Atletico Madrid to glory in 2013/14 when they beat the mighty Real Madrid and Barcelona to the La Liga title. He also finished runners-up twice in the UEFA Champions League.

Even with the financial constraints and transfer bans, the quality of Simeone's side never dropped. He shares some similarities with Jose Mourinho. Like any Mourinho's side, his Atleti side is defensively well drilled and disciplined at the back.

Atletico Madrid has had the best defensive record in La Liga, ever since the arrival of Simeone and his style has proved very effective but less exciting to watch. He could be a risky option at the Old Trafford, but his ability to get results is worth the gamble.

#2 Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)

The graduate of the famous Covernico training, Allegri has been an inspired find for Juve

Three Serie A titles and 2 Champions League finals in his last 3 years, Allegri is one of the most successful managers in European football and is known for his tactical intelligence and ability to extract the best out of his players.

Andrea Pirlo once said, " Allegri brought a sense of calmness to the team and one of the most relaxed managers he has ever worked with". The Italian has been lauded for his versatility and ability to adapt to different scenarios.

He is not expected to leave Juventus anytime soon, but, if an opportunity to manage Manchester United comes his way, it can all change in a jiffy. Can he do a better job than Jose Mourinho? His recent records and abilities say so. However, his lack of experience outside of Italy may prove to be a hindering factor.

#1 Carlo Ancelotti (Unemployed)

The widely travelled tactician has won things everywhere he has gone to

A man with one Serie A title, one Premier League title, one Bundesliga title, one Ligue 1 title, three UEFA Champions League titles and much more, is currently jobless but is regarded as one of the most experienced managers in world football right now.

His teams generally play a more fluid and attacking style of football. The Italian is known for his tactical prowess, adaptability - and his teams have always been a joy to watch. When Jose Mourinho, Juande Ramos, Manuel Pellegrini, and Fabio Capello failed to deliver European success at the Bernabeu, Ancelotti delivered it in his first season at Real Madrid.

He has managed some of the European giants in his career like Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. He was offered the job in 2013 to replace Sir Alex Ferguson but the Italian refused to take it. Instead, he went to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

He knows the Premier League better than many on this list and has all the experience to succeed in the realm of Old Trafford.