Football management is a thankless task – just ask Louis van Gaal.
No sooner had the Dutchman lifted the F.A. Cup – a feat last achieved by Manchester United in 2004, not to mention the club’s first silverware of the post-Ferguson era – than he was out of a job, replaced by his former protégé, Jose Mourinho.
Let’s be clear: this is no Greek tragedy, however tempting it might be to present it as such. As historians are fond of pointing out, context is often the enemy of narrative, and in this case, the context is two seasons of sluggish, unattractive football, £258 million in transfer fees, and an underwhelming fifth place finish.
So perhaps Ed Woodward and the Glazers were justified in pulling the plug on Van Gaal’s reign at Old Trafford, but is Mourinho the right man to take his place?
I am not so sure. Over the next few pages, three reasons for this have been examined. Leave your thoughts in the comments section below, whether you think he will be a success or not.
