Jose Mourinho reportedly felt he had "unfinished business" at Manchester United when speculation about a possible return in January 2024 intensified. Erik ten Hag managed to stay in charge until November of that year, before poor results led the Red Devils to hire Ruben Amorim, a coach whom the Special One mentored.
Many envisioned Amorim as an astute appointment due to his past success at Sporting CP, where he completely turned a club in turmoil around and oversaw consistent Liga Portugal title wins. But nine months on, and he sits on a win record percentage of 24.7%, an abysmal statistic that has fuelled talk of an early sacking or resignation.
Mourinho has emerged as a possible contender to replace his Portuguese compatriot after losing his job at Fenerbahce. He once said he loved his time with the club and he may well relish the chance to re-ignite his managerial career by re-igniting one of English football's broken powerhouses.
That said, the 62-year-old would have some tricky decisions to make over his team with Amorim still struggling to work out his best starting XI. Here's how a Mourinho United lineup may look if he were to return.
Goalkeeper and Defence:
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Tom Heaton (GK)
Amorim currently has a massive headache deciding on who should be Manchester United's number one, and Mourinho would equally be scratching his head. Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana both have weaknesses that Mourinho would immediately look to eradicate from his squad.
That's why Mourinho may opt for the experienced Tom Heaton, despite the 39-year-old English shot-stopper currently serving as third-choice. The Portuguese coach wants a goalkeeper who is reliable coming for crosses, which rules Bayindir out, and doesn't make rash decisions, which Onana does every single game.
Heaton was handed game time during United's pre-season and has become a leader in the dressing room. He would be a reliable stop-gap before the Red Devils mark the return of the "Special One" by signing him a better number one.
Noussair Mazraoui (Right-Back)
There is little chance of seeing Amad start at right-back if Mourinho were to return, given his defensive vulnerabilities. One might envision that he'd use his compatriot Diogo Dalot, who is more adept at serving as a full-back.
But Mourinho has made brutal calls throughout his managerial career, and Dalot may well be one of the first casualties if he were to return to Old Trafford. The Portugal international's disastrous start to the season has raised huge question marks over his place in the United team.
Noussair Mazraoui has been one of the few positives for the Red Devils over the past year, rarely putting in anything less than a 7/10 performance. He embodies all the characteristics Mourinho wants from a player: displaying courage, a good understanding of the game, and being a hard worker ready to perform any role asked of him.
Leny Yoro (Centre-Back)
Mourinho has a questionable track record of using youth, as he often prefers more seasoned players who know how to get the job done. This is why his experienced Chelsea team were so successful during the first of his four jobs in England.
That said, Leny Yoro has played like a veteran who has spent longer than just a year in United's defence and could lay claim to being the best signing of the INEOS regime. The 19-year-old was faultless against Arsenal and Fulham, making several outstanding tackles that would undoubtedly get Mourinho off his seat and applauding on the touchline.
Mourinho may consider rotating to help not overload the French teenager with too much work. But he'd be making a huge mistake not to continue using Yoro as a starter.
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Harry Maguire (Centre-Back):
If the three-time Premier League title-winning coach was wary about the lack of Yoro's experience, then there would be no better partner than Harry Maguire. While Matthijs de Ligt is another option, Mourinho would likely prefer a dependable workhorse who has long been accustomed to the demands of Premier League football year after year.
Maguire feels like a Mourinho centre-back, possessing a similar profile to that of Gary Cahill, whose best years came under the Portuguese manager. He's already hinted at his admiration for the 32-year-old after watching him on his United debut in August 2019: "The tactical knowledge, the personality, that sense of reading the game, being alert all the time and having the confidence to play. He was fantastic."
The England international has enjoyed a career renaissance after it looked increasingly likely he'd depart under Ten Hag. He has the character that would help Mourinho turn the tide at Old Trafford.
Patrick Dorgu (Left-Back)
Mourinho's issues with Luke Shaw are well-documented, and the pair have never really made amends for their tumultuous relationship while at Old Trafford together. If the English left-back were to see his former manager make a return, it could finally be the end of his injury-plagued United spell.
The ex-Real Madrid boss would likely place his faith in Patrick Dorgu to do a job at left-back and trust that Maguire could help him on the defensive side of things. The Danish wide-man has endured a topsy-turvy time since arriving at the Theatre of Dreams in January.
Dorgu has showcased some of his qualities, with a pacey profile that sees him surge forward, and he's not afraid to try his luck at goal. But his deliveries have left much to be admired, and the 20-year-old would be under pressure to win Mourinho over.
Midfield:
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Kobbie Mainoo (Central Midfield)
Amorim may not want to build United's team around him, but Mourinho's system would be perfect for Kobbie Mainoo. The English youngster's future is uncertain amid his lack of first-team opportunities since Amorim replaced Ten Hag in November.
The 20-year-old was expected to be the protagonist for the Red Devils in the long term after breaking into the senior team, but he is on the outside looking in. A Mourinho return could breathe new life into Mainoo and the Reds' midfield, which is one of their weak points that needs attention.
Mainoo can take comfort in knowing Mourinho acknowledges just how important it is to use the club's academy. He said back in December 2016: "We want to play young players, but sometimes in football it’s about the moment. So yes, the people here are aware of the history and tradition of young players at the club."
Casemiro (Central Midfield)
Casemiro debuted at Real Madrid under Mourinho, and it would be fitting for the 33-year-old to end his United career playing under the Portuguese coach. Are his best days behind him? Definitely, but the Brazilian has worked hard to still contribute with his years of knowledge at the top of the game.
The five-time Champions League-winning midfielder won Amorim over with some fine performances, including in Europa League wins over Lyon and Athletic Bilbao last season. There would be less emphasis on him pressing in a midfield three, and he could anchor Mourinho's midfield, allowing Mainoo to work his magic alongside Bruno Fernandes.
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Bruno Fernandes (Attacking Midfield)
Mourinho can be a polarising figure on the touchline due to his passionate personality, which is comparable to that of United captain Bruno Fernandes. But the Portuguese playmaker has earned plaudits over this past year for remaining world-class despite his side's eerie fall from grace.
Fernandes' future remains up in the air despite turning down a £100m move to Saudi Arabia earlier in the transfer window. If Mourinho were to walk back into Carrington tomorrow, the Red Devils' midfield maestro would be one of the first people he would contact to try and devise a plan to revive the weakened giant of English football.
Attack:
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Bryan Mbeumo (Right Wing)
Mourinho loves a pacey winger who can cut inside and unleash a shot that gives the goalkeeper no chance, and that is one of Bryan Mbeumo's trademarks. The Cameroonian would be a nailed-on starter for Mourinho, which would quite unfairly force Amad to play backup.
Mbeumo has demonstrated his ability to be prolific in the Premier League, scoring 20 goals for Brentford last season. He could become United's biggest attacking threat under Mourinho, similarly to how effective Eden Hazard was for the Portuguese at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old could also offer versatility as a makeshift number nine to take the goalscoring burden off the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee. He is a well-rounded forward who would be a fine fit in a Mourinho United team.
Benjamin Sesko (Centre-Forward)
Benjamin Sesko idolised Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the manager who the iconic Swedish striker said made him feel like a "lion," and that he'd even die for his former Inter Milan boss. That's the warrior-esque mentality that he instills in his players and could get Sesko roaring at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old needs time, and Mourinho would give him that, although he needs to be rewarded with meeting his standards on and off the pitch. You could argue that there hasn't been a better developer of number nines in European football, given the illustrious list of names he worked with, including Ibrahimovic, Didier Drogba, and Diego Milito.
Matheus Cunha (Left-Wing)
Another player who Mourinho would fall in love with is Matheus Cunha, who has already become a fan favourite at United because of his dedication to not only going forward but also tracking back. We've seen the likes of Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata draw the ire of the Portuguese because they tended to neglect the defensive side of his playing philosophy.
Cunha has the flair and creativity to unlock defences and thrive even out on the wing rather than in a preferred number 10 role. The Brazilian knows how to operate in a similarly pragmatic system, having spent time playing for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid team before arriving in England with Wolves in 2023.
Jose Mourinho's Current Man United XI (4-3-3)
Position:
Goalkeeper
Right-Back
Centre-Back
Centre-Back
Left-Back
Central Midfield
Central Midfield
Attacking Midfield
Right Wing
Centre Forward
Left Wing