Mourinho's dwindling options bode well for Man United

 

In Portugal, we say the bigger the ship, the stronger the storm. Fortunately for me, I have always been in big ships. FC Porto was a very big ship in Portugal, Chelsea was also a big ship in England and Inter was a great ship in Italy. Now I'm at Real Madrid, which is considered the biggest ship on the planet.'
-- Jose Mourinho, speaking after his appointment as Real Madrid coach in 2010.

Even as Jose Mourinho embarks upon his new assignment as Manchester United manager, he would be wise to run a reality check.

While critics feel he is at best a stop-gap arrangement (not a permanent solution) and that he is not the right fit at Old Trafford, they admit he might help win the trophies that Man United's owners and fans crave after three relatively barren years.

But when Mourinho leaves, or is asked to leave, they warn, he will leave the club in disarray.

Mourinho, thanks to his nomadic nature -- in his career spanning a decade-and-a-half -- has never been at a club for a fourth year. His preference to only take charge of big clubs, ala Pep Guardiola, means he is running out of options about the possible destinations he could head to -- rather clubs that can afford him.