A year has passed since Jose Mourinho left Manchester United, but the legacy he left behind whilst still the manager of the club will always be a point of reference point in the club's history.
Upon his appointment, there was a sense of renewed optimism, high hopes and expectations of a trophy laden seasons to come amongst fans of the club as it is usually the case with new appointments.
Mourinho's antecedents as a relatively successful coach in all the previous club's he's been to added somewhat to the level of euphoria that surrounded his move to Manchester United.
He was announced on the 27th of May 2016, as the new manager of the Red side of Manchester from the 2016/2017 season.
On announcing his appointment, Vice Chairman of the club, Ed Woodward had said: “José is quite simply the best manager in the game today. He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.”
Jose Mourinho did deliver this success as envisaged by Ed Woodward and as expected by a large section of the fan base and football followers in general aware of the developments at the club at the time.
In Mourinho's first season in charge as manager, his impact on the team was largely felt in the club as Manchester United defeated Leicester City on August 2016, in the FA Community Shield to win the first trophy under the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager.
The victory was much sweeter with Leicester City being the reigning Premier League champions.
In February of that same season, the Special One delivered a major silverware for the Red Devil's, becoming the first Manchester United manager to win a major trophy in a debut season after defeating Southampton 3-2 in extra time to lift the EFL Cup (League Cup) trophy at Wembley.
His first season in charge was capped with another major silverware, The UEFA Europa League trophy, a trophy which had been missing in the club's array of trophies in her rich history.
It became an added collection to United's well decorated trophy cabinet in May 2017 when Mourinho lead the team to defeat Ajax 2-0 in the final on 24 May 2017 at the Friends Arena in Solna, a suburb of Stockholm in Sweden. This became Mourinho's second major trophy during his first season as Manchester United manager.
As far as youth development goes, Scott McTominay stands out during Mourinho's managerial spell with the club. As a graduate of the club's youth academy, he made his senior debut for the club in May 2017, and was also promoted to the first team under the watch of the Portuguese gaffer. Scott McTominay has gone on to be an integral part of the first team ever since.
During his time at United, he signed 11 players, all costing approximately £400m.
Mourinho was often criticised for his pragmatic approach and team set up which was more often than not in a conservatively way during his time at United despite the three trophies he won in his first season.
In essence, Mourinho sacrificed style for results, but when the victories ran dry, his tenure quickly collapsed.
Midway through the season of 2018/2019, Ole Gunner Solskjaer was subsequently appointed on an interim role which then metamorphosized into a permanent role after a fine run of 14 wins in 19 games.
This period gave a clear picture for the need of a cultural reboot and rebirth and the necessity of a proper footballing foundation if the club was to make any headway in getting back to summit of sustainable success on the pitch.
With the team playing in a more fluid and dynamic way. Goals were scored with ease and the team found it easy to break down opposing teams, winning games came with so much convenience in the process of doing it.
Legacy of Mourinho's Sack
The sacking of Jose Mourinho has left a legacy in the history of the club. His exit left a legacy of birthing a cultural reboot -
As the club's CEO Ed Woodward puts it in an interview with United We Stand in October 2019,
“Whatever manager we have has to buy into that philosophy and Ole is a walking, talking version of that. Let’s let this play out with Ole in terms of the culture reboot.”
- the club's way of operation and approach, which includes:
Signing of players, attacking and free flowing style of play, promoting of youth with potentials from the academy and developing this potentials in them while integrating them with the first team, attitude and mentality of the players and having a manager that key into the culture and tradition of the club.
Gary Neville encapsulates this cultural reboot which the club had decided to embark upon after Mourinho's sack in one of his podcasts for SkySports few weeks into Solskjaer's interim role as manager.
He said: "Manchester United's philosophy is so deep and so meaningful, it's like Barcelona's and it's like Ajaxs.
"At Manchester United you play fast, attacking football in an entertaining way. You bring young players through and give them belief. And you win.
"To be honest with you, the third one sometimes goes in cycles. The winning actually comes as a result of doing the first two right. The third one doesn't always happen. Sometimes you can go years without winning trophies. You can go years without winning things and picking up titles."
Mourinho's reign was characterized with the approach for instant success through radical and aggressive spending and signing of players without long-term strategy, forthright thinking and planning from both the coach and decision makers at the club. Likewise the manager before him, Louise Van Gaal.
Although this approach did bring success in a short time, but over time it proved to be unsustainable and an approach that didn't allign with the principles and football culture that Manchester United was known for before Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
The future with Ole
It's been over a year since Ole Gunner Solskjaer became the manager of Manchester United, interim and permanently combined. Whether he will successfully be able to carry out this cultural reboot and rebuilding is left to be seen, but the positive signs are there for us to see if we look closely enough.
 |
| José Mourinho's Unveiling At Manchester United |
Upon his appointment, there was a sense of renewed optimism, high hopes and expectations of a trophy laden seasons to come amongst fans of the club as it is usually the case with new appointments.
Mourinho's antecedents as a relatively successful coach in all the previous club's he's been to added somewhat to the level of euphoria that surrounded his move to Manchester United.
He was announced on the 27th of May 2016, as the new manager of the Red side of Manchester from the 2016/2017 season.
| Manchester United Announced The Signing Of Jose Mourinho On Twitter |
On announcing his appointment, Vice Chairman of the club, Ed Woodward had said: “José is quite simply the best manager in the game today. He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.”
The Legacy of Mourinho's appointment
Jose Mourinho did deliver this success as envisaged by Ed Woodward and as expected by a large section of the fan base and football followers in general aware of the developments at the club at the time.
In Mourinho's first season in charge as manager, his impact on the team was largely felt in the club as Manchester United defeated Leicester City on August 2016, in the FA Community Shield to win the first trophy under the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager.
 |
| Manchester United Players Celebrates After Defeating Leicester City In The Community Shield |
The victory was much sweeter with Leicester City being the reigning Premier League champions.
In February of that same season, the Special One delivered a major silverware for the Red Devil's, becoming the first Manchester United manager to win a major trophy in a debut season after defeating Southampton 3-2 in extra time to lift the EFL Cup (League Cup) trophy at Wembley.
 |
| Manchester United Players Celebrating With The EFL Trophy |
His first season in charge was capped with another major silverware, The UEFA Europa League trophy, a trophy which had been missing in the club's array of trophies in her rich history.
 |
| José Mourinho Added The Europa League Trophy To United's Cabinet |
It became an added collection to United's well decorated trophy cabinet in May 2017 when Mourinho lead the team to defeat Ajax 2-0 in the final on 24 May 2017 at the Friends Arena in Solna, a suburb of Stockholm in Sweden. This became Mourinho's second major trophy during his first season as Manchester United manager.
As far as youth development goes, Scott McTominay stands out during Mourinho's managerial spell with the club. As a graduate of the club's youth academy, he made his senior debut for the club in May 2017, and was also promoted to the first team under the watch of the Portuguese gaffer. Scott McTominay has gone on to be an integral part of the first team ever since.
 |
| Scott McTominay Got His Manchester United First Team Breakthrough Under Mourinho |
Although there is a school of thought that a lot more could have been done regarding youth development and promotion under him.
This is just about Jose Mourinho's legacy that preceded his appointment at Manchester United.
The Sack
In the build up to his sack in December 2018, his third season at the club, the team was stuck in a rut.
From being 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool to being 11 points adrift fourth place Chelsea almost midway through the season, which would earn a Champions League qualification place to United's haul of 26 points after the first 17 Premier League games, the worst tally at that stage of a season since 1990-91. The Red Devil's were closer in terms of points to the relegation zone than to leaders Liverpool. The picture wasn't a good one at all.
Amongst many other factors that led to his sack, was the fall-out with £89m record signing Paul Pogba and several other players in the team.
Breakdown in relationship with Chief Executive Officer, Ed Woodward, in Mourinho's third season also contributed to his dismissal after missing out on key transfer targets in the summer. Mourinho had complained about the lack of new signings at Old Trafford, particularly in defence, during the summer.
This is just about Jose Mourinho's legacy that preceded his appointment at Manchester United.
The Sack
In the build up to his sack in December 2018, his third season at the club, the team was stuck in a rut.
From being 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool to being 11 points adrift fourth place Chelsea almost midway through the season, which would earn a Champions League qualification place to United's haul of 26 points after the first 17 Premier League games, the worst tally at that stage of a season since 1990-91. The Red Devil's were closer in terms of points to the relegation zone than to leaders Liverpool. The picture wasn't a good one at all.
Amongst many other factors that led to his sack, was the fall-out with £89m record signing Paul Pogba and several other players in the team.
 |
| Jose Mourinho Had A Fall Out With Key Players In The Team |
Breakdown in relationship with Chief Executive Officer, Ed Woodward, in Mourinho's third season also contributed to his dismissal after missing out on key transfer targets in the summer. Mourinho had complained about the lack of new signings at Old Trafford, particularly in defence, during the summer.
During his time at United, he signed 11 players, all costing approximately £400m.
Mourinho was often criticised for his pragmatic approach and team set up which was more often than not in a conservatively way during his time at United despite the three trophies he won in his first season.
In essence, Mourinho sacrificed style for results, but when the victories ran dry, his tenure quickly collapsed.
Midway through the season of 2018/2019, Ole Gunner Solskjaer was subsequently appointed on an interim role which then metamorphosized into a permanent role after a fine run of 14 wins in 19 games.
This period gave a clear picture for the need of a cultural reboot and rebirth and the necessity of a proper footballing foundation if the club was to make any headway in getting back to summit of sustainable success on the pitch.
With the team playing in a more fluid and dynamic way. Goals were scored with ease and the team found it easy to break down opposing teams, winning games came with so much convenience in the process of doing it.
Legacy of Mourinho's Sack
The sacking of Jose Mourinho has left a legacy in the history of the club. His exit left a legacy of birthing a cultural reboot -
 |
| Manchester United Officially Announced The Sack Of Jose Mourinho |
As the club's CEO Ed Woodward puts it in an interview with United We Stand in October 2019,
“Whatever manager we have has to buy into that philosophy and Ole is a walking, talking version of that. Let’s let this play out with Ole in terms of the culture reboot.”
- the club's way of operation and approach, which includes:
Signing of players, attacking and free flowing style of play, promoting of youth with potentials from the academy and developing this potentials in them while integrating them with the first team, attitude and mentality of the players and having a manager that key into the culture and tradition of the club.
Gary Neville encapsulates this cultural reboot which the club had decided to embark upon after Mourinho's sack in one of his podcasts for SkySports few weeks into Solskjaer's interim role as manager.
He said: "Manchester United's philosophy is so deep and so meaningful, it's like Barcelona's and it's like Ajaxs.
"At Manchester United you play fast, attacking football in an entertaining way. You bring young players through and give them belief. And you win.
"To be honest with you, the third one sometimes goes in cycles. The winning actually comes as a result of doing the first two right. The third one doesn't always happen. Sometimes you can go years without winning trophies. You can go years without winning things and picking up titles."
Mourinho's reign was characterized with the approach for instant success through radical and aggressive spending and signing of players without long-term strategy, forthright thinking and planning from both the coach and decision makers at the club. Likewise the manager before him, Louise Van Gaal.
Although this approach did bring success in a short time, but over time it proved to be unsustainable and an approach that didn't allign with the principles and football culture that Manchester United was known for before Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
The future with Ole
 |
| Solskjaer Unveiled As Manchester United's Manager |
It's been over a year since Ole Gunner Solskjaer became the manager of Manchester United, interim and permanently combined. Whether he will successfully be able to carry out this cultural reboot and rebuilding is left to be seen, but the positive signs are there for us to see if we look closely enough.
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