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| Chelsea sacking Jose Mourinho could pave the way for him to replace Roy Hodgson if England fail |
MARTIN GLENN was probably one of the first to prick up his ears yesterday at the news of Jose Mourinho's demise.
Only last weekend the chief executive of the Football Association had suggested performances as well as results at Euro 2016 will determine whether Roy Hodgson would be offered an extension to his contract as England boss.
Mourinho's sudden availability has upped the ante.
He has admitted in the past managing an international team would interest him later in his career and, at 52, maybe the time is now right to take a break from club football.
His sudden departure from Stamford Bridge confirmed the perception that he is a short-term impact manager, who only seems to stay at a club for two or three years before moving on.
So if England have a less than inspiring campaign in France next summer, perhaps a two-year contract to take England to the next World Cup in Russia in 2018 may appeal to both parties.
After his spells at Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea (twice) it is difficult to see where Mourinho can go now club-wise.
He has burned his bridges at the Bernabeu, Barcelona would never take their former translator back, Manchester City seem certain to appoint Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich look like bringing in Carlo Ancelotti to replace Guardiola, Liverpool are more than happy with their appointment of the charismatic Jurgen Klopp, and Arsenal could simply not consider him as a replacement if and when Arsene Wenger retires after his long-running feud with the Frenchman.
Intriguingly, that leaves Manchester United where the natives are growing restless with Louis van Gaal but not, it is understood, the Old Trafford hierarchy. Yet.
No less an influential voice than Sir Bobby Charlton dismissed the idea of Mourinho succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson years ago, suggesting his abrasive personality and pragmatic football philosophy was not a good fit for United.
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| What now for Jose Mourinho after his second sacking at Chelsea. |
Considering the uninspiring football served up by Van Gaal's team at the moment, the argument against Mourinho's style has lost some of its credibility.
The rumours were that Mourinho wanted to take over at United when David Moyes' sacking dovetailed with his own departure from Real, although he has always denied that was the case.
Now it could be a case of needs-must for United. They have gone two years without a trophy and if that extends to a third season, Van Gaal will come under increasing scrutiny.
Only a fortnight ago senior sources declared they were happy with the Dutchman's controversial regime. But that was before their exit from the Champions League and a defeat at Bournemouth that leaves them winless in their last five games and still struggling to provide entertainment and goals.
If Van Gaal fails to pull United out of their nose-dive and they continue limping through a bleak midwinter, the mutterings of unrest among their followers will gain in volume.
The tipping point for the Glazer family and the United board would come next summer if Van Gaal fails to secure the top-four place that would return the club to the Champions League.
After all, similar failure was what ultimately cost Moyes his job.
If, as United officials expect, Guardiola joins City this summer and Ancelotti moves to Bavaria, where would they turn for a new manager?
Despite Sir Bobby's reservations, United's other knight of the realm, Ferguson, remains a firm friend of Mourinho and would surely back his appointment if it all goes belly up under Van Gaal.
And let's face it, there were few more abrasive characters than Ferguson during his 26 years at the helm.
England or Manchester United? It could be an interesting summer dilemma for Mourinho.
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