Phil Neville: Jose Mourinho will have success at Manchester United then leave
By Claire Corkery
Last Updated: 22/05/16 3:27pm
Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville has said that Jose Mourinho will be successful at Old Trafford but will not stay there long.
Sky sources understand Mourinho will replace current manager Louis van Gaal, despite the Dutch boss leading United to an FA Cup trophy on Saturday.
While Manchester United have so far declined to comment, Van Gaal told Sky Sports News HQ reporter James Cooper that "it's over" as he left the team's hotel in London on Sunday.
Many United fans have been unhappy with the 64-year-old after the Reds had a disappointing season in the Premier League, which saw them finish in fifth place.
Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December after last season's champions made a miserable start to their defence of the Premier League title.
The 53-year-old, a two-time manager of Chelsea, has won trophies in numerous European leagues but, since his first spell at Stamford Bridge, which ended in 2007, he has never stayed at one club for longer than three years and three months.
Speaking to the BBC, former England international Neville said he believed Mourinho would not manage the Reds for long.
"I can't see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years, that seems to be his shelf life at a football club," said Neville, who is currently assistant coach of Valencia.
"When Jose finishes at a club it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips.
"It happened at Chelsea, it certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players.
"It's a pattern with Jose, he comes into a club, he gets success but he doesn't stay for too long."