Jose Mourinho and Man United: Timeline of events and claims
Jose Mourinho and Manchester United is a story so complicated that almost anything which can be claimed has been claimed, often repeatedly. Fans of the Old Trafford club may well think that Wesley Sneijder and Nicolas Gaitan have been huge rumour sagas, but neither of them come close to Mourinho.
Given all the things that have been reported, it's incredibly difficult for supporters to not only try and work out the truth, but also to keep on top of who is saying what. With no rumour sources infallible, which is often a reflection of how theatrical football business has become, it's impossible to stick with a single line, especially when so much is contradictory.
After Chelsea's disastrous start to the season, Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club on December 17th. Just two days later, Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Norwich City, following a run of other poor results. The combination of the two events led to claims Mourinho could even be in charge of Manchester United for the Chelsea match on Monday December 28th.
And a monster was born.
Louis van Gaal is facing the sack at Manchester United if the club lose to Stoke City or Chelsea during the festive fixture period.'
December 21st: The Daily Mirror say Van Gaal has ONE game left to save his job and will be sacked if Stoke win.
December 21st: Jan Aage Fjortoft tweets: 'Been talking to a lot of people last days.
My understanding:
Van Gaal OUT
Giggs the new manager
Could happen before Christmas'
December 22nd: Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf cover the claims from England, with a headline saying 'D-Day Louis' but they don't give any impression they believe an exit is imminent.
December 22nd: talkSPORT have something of a 'Van Gaal sacked' day, insinuating the manager could go that day, and making claims of upcoming announcements.
Andy Goldstein of the radio station tweeted: 'Lots asking me for news. It's coming. Be patient. Will be today....so I'm told. My guess would be before 7.30pm'
December 22nd: Trevor Sinclair, who at the time said on his profile he was a BBC pundit, jumps on the bandwagon and tweets that Van Gaal has been sacked. Sinclair later said he'd left his telephone unattended at a Christmas party and someone else had tweeted it, few believed him.
A huge fuss develops, with Kevin Palmer of the Sunday World adding 'Good to see Trevor Sinclair breaking the news that Man Utd have sacked Louis van Gaal...who needs Sky Sports News!'
December 22nd: The Sun say Mourinho is already working on Manchester United plans, and signing Wesley Sneijder would be his first move.
December 23rd: Van Gaal hosts his Manchester United press conference, clearly angry, asking for apologies over what he calls lies about his sacking being imminent.
Van Gaal ends the press conference, refusing to take questions, but wishes everyone well: "I wish you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy new year when I see you. Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye."
December 26th: Stoke City 2 Man United 0
December 26th: Paddy Power payout on Van Gaal being sacked: 'Ho ho ho… Merry Christmas! After today’s defeat Van Gaal’s position at United looks dodgier than cold turkey on Boxing Day so we decided to payout on a Van Gaal exit.'
December 26th: The Daily Mirror: 'Louis van Gaal on the brink of the sack after Manchester United crash to 2-0 defeat at Stoke. The Red Devils board accepted before the match that another defeat would make the Dutchman's position untenable.'
December 28th: The Telegraph say Van Gaal could quit, even if Manchester United beat Chelsea, after the manager made comments suggesting he could decide to leave if he wants.
December 28th: Man United 0 Chelsea 0
January 2nd: Man United 2 Swansea City 1
January 9th: Man United 1 Sheffield United 0
January 12th: Newcastle United 3 Man United 3
January 12th: After the Newcastle match, Van Gaal has another spat with journalists and allegedly calls The Sun's Neil Custis a 'fat man'. Despite several Dutch speakers saying the manager almost certainly said 'that man', and going into detail to explain why, Custis takes offence and admits he is fat.
A knee operation hit the journalist's fitness regime, but Van Gaal's words are inspiration enough for Custis, who gets a personal trainer, sets himself a weight-loss challenge, and films his workout.
January 17th: Liverpool 0 Man United 1
January 17th: Duncan Castles for One World Sports: 'Jose Mourinho turned down Real Madrid to wait for Premier League opening'
January 23rd: The Independent run an exclusive saying: 'Jose Mourinho to Manchester United: Ex-Chelsea manager pens six-page love letter to United to claim 'I can change''
Mourinho's agency Gestifute quickly deny the claims, saying the idea is 'totally absurd'.
January 23rd: Man United 0 Southampton 1
January 29th: Gazzetta dello Sport's London correspondent say Mourinho is in 'real but discreet' talks with Man United.
January 29th: Derby County 1 Man United 3
February 2nd: Man United 3 Stoke 0
February 3rd: Sky Italia journalist, who interviewed Jorge Mendes, recently says Mourinho to Man United is close.
February 3rd: Manchester Evening News journalist says Sky Italia claims are nonsense.
February 4th: El Confidencial say Mourinho has signed some sort of agreement with Manchester United, will be the club's new manager... with the only doubt being when he takes over.
February 5th: Various media outlets in Spain back up El Confidencial, with Marca saying Mourinho will take over on July 1st.
February 5th: Manchester Evening News journalist says Mourinho and Man United are in talks.
February 7th: Chelsea 1 Man United 1
February 10th: El Confidencial say Jorge Mendes is working on the final details of Mourinho's contract. He'll be paid €20m a year on a deal lasting until 2019.
February 10th: Gianluca Di Marzio tweets: 'I just told few days ago, I know he'll be the next manager.'
February 13th: Sunderland 2 Man United 1
February 14th: Duncan Castles writes for Sunday Times, saying: 'Man United have no agreement with Jose Mourinho. Risk losing their chance to hire him'
February 14th: The Sun run an exclusive saying Van Gaal could go before the end of the month, claiming the board 'believe they will lose nothing by swooping for the ex-Chelsea boss before their next league game at home to Arsenal on February 28.'
February 18th: FC Midtjylland 2 Man United 1
February 18th: Duncan Castles for One World Sports: 'Mourinho set to meet with Inter Milan.'
February 19th: Inter Milan's Bedy Moratti says: “He’s missed as a person, but right now he’s happy, he’s going to Manchester.”
February 20th: Duncan Castles tweets: 'On Jose Mourinho and Manchester United am told there has been no change of position this week. Still no deal.'
February 22nd: Shrewsbury 0 Man United 3
February 23rd: Portugal's Correio da Manhã report Mourinho has told friends he's got the job at Old Trafford, and they claim he's house hunting.
February 25th: Man United 5 FC Midtjylland 1
February 26th: Gianluca Di Marzio tweets: 'I said: I know he'll be the manager. I know, doesn't mean he signed. I know that. So let's wait it happens.'
February 27th: Duncan Castles writes for The Sunday Times, saying Man United's board split over Mourinho, but also claiming board will appoint director of football.
February 28th: Man United 3 Arsenal 2
March 1st: Spain's El Pais say Real Madrid have learned Mourinho has signed a pre contract agreement with Man United.
March 2nd: Man United 1 Watford 0
March 6th: West Brom 1 Man United 0
March 10th: Liverpool 2 Man United 0
March 11th: Gianluca Di Marzio, when asked about Mourinho, tweets: 'I know it’s United…'
And then: 'that's what i know and say for months now. 100% is when he signs and be official.'
March 13th: Man United 1 West Ham 1
March 16th: Mourinho grants an interview to BT Sport, in which he says: "Do I miss my football? Yes I miss it. But I look forward to the future, I want my football back and time flies and July will be just around the corner.
"Yes, for sure (he'll have a job in the summer). I don’t know where. Since I left Chelsea in December I was lucky enough to not just have options but good options. But I made the decision to wait. July, mid-July the new pre-season starts and somewhere I want to be there."
March 17th: Man United 1 Liverpool 1
March 19th: El Pais run a story similar to their previous one, but add figures: 'If United do not sign the final contract (with Mourinho) before May 1st, they must pay £5m; If by June 1st he's still not signed, they shall pay another £10m. May is the key, because it's the month in which the vast majority of the signings of players are closed and the plans formed.'
The El Pais story is written by Diego Torres, from sources close to Gestifute. Torres wrote a hugely critical Mourinho biography.
March 20th: Man City 0 Man United 1
March 21st: Duncan Castles for One World Sports: 'Jose Mourinho is considering an approach to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. The Portuguese manager - also the principal candidate to succeed Louis van Gaal at Manchester United - has been asked by third parties to avoid committing himself to a new job while Wenger's future at the north London club remains unresolved.'
March 25th: The Sun run an exclusive saying Mourinho has a verbal agreement to take over at Man United and will be paid £20m: 'there is a verbal agreement in place that he will take over in May.'
April 3rd: Man United 1 Everton 0
April 5th: The Sun: 'Jose Mourinho demands written promise from Manchester United that he will be manager in summer. Special One is sweating over Old Trafford future after Fergie publicly backed LVG.'
April 6th: De Telegraaf run an article on Van Gaal's plans for next season, making it clear they believe he'll still be in charge at Man United. It's claimed the manager has been given assurances he can spend €100m in the summer window. Further Dutch reports follow that Van Gaal has turned down the opportunity of a role with the country's FA.
April 6th: Guillem Balague tweets: 'His (Jose's) people say all done with United', but points out Van Gaal thinks differently.
April 7th: The Sun: 'Jose Mourinho begins house hunting in Cheshire as he prepares for life as Manchester United boss. Special One is growing more confident he will be appointed Old Trafford chief.'
It's impossible for Manchester United supporters to know what to believe. The media who seem closest to Van Gaal have been relatively calm throughout, whilst the leaks from Portugal, Spain and Italy have repeatedly insisted a deal is done.
Things got ridiculous at several points and it's obvious people have tried to use the story to further their own aims. The farce in December makes that apparent.
After the December madness there was a slight calming, with attention then going toward the 'fat man' claims and resulting circus. Real Madrid interest has popped up several times, and some sources have repeatedly claimed Mourinho is much wanted, and Man United need to hurry, which may look like an attempt from the Portuguese manager's camp to pressure Ed Woodward and co.
Mourinho himself, when speaking to BT, gave a nod toward starting a job in July, which would back up Marca's claims. However, the Spanish newspaper had appeared to be taking their lead from El Confidencial, who we've found more reliable.
Whilst there's obviously been some stories plucked from thin air, incorrect claims could also be due to wrong information, from either Jose Mourinho's camp or that of Louis van Gaal. There's also every possibility that Ed Woodward is leading both men along, giving Van Gaal confidence, but also dangling a carrot for Mourinho.
Unfortunately, this is very much... to be continued.
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