Robson picks Mourinho to lead United

Manchester United great Bryan Robson believes Jose Mourinho will be at the top of the list to one day replace Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson recently celebrated his 70th birthday and 25th anniversary at the club, but there is little question of him retiring in the immediate future.

Robson believes that with the Scotsman still fit and healthy, the club are unlikely to have begun searching for a new manager, but when the time comes, the current Real Madrid boss would be an ideal candidate.

“As far as I’m concerned, and from what I know about Manchester United, they are not considering (a new manager) at the moment,” Robson said at the Soccerex forum in Manchester.

“How do you replace Sir Alex Ferguson? It is near enough impossible. But they are going to have to do that and Mourinho is definitely one who would be at the top of the list. His record speaks for itself.”

However, Robson would also consider the current backroom team who have been helping Ferguson for years, and know the club well.

“Whoever goes in there they will have their opinions and ideas, but because of the success United have had over the last 20 years, you can’t go in and rip everything apart and try to rebuild the way you think it should be,” the former United captain said.

“How can you do that after so much success?

“Why not Mike Phelan and Rene (Meulensteen) take over from Sir Alex Ferguson when he does decide to pack it in?

“That never gets mentioned but they know how it works. It always has to be someone who is really well known with a track record.”