Rui Faria Leaves Manchester United Amid Arsenal Speculation
Manchester United have announced a shock departure from their managerial staff ahead of next season. There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the future of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, especially as the brand of football being played by the team is not what many Manchester United fans are hoping to see.
However, it is not the former Real Madrid manager who is leaving the club, it is his trusty assistant, Rui Faria.
Long Partnership
This news comes as a big surprise as Mourinho and Faria have worked together in football for 17 years and whenever you see Mourinho sat on the bench during matches, Faria is never far away. When there is a substitution to be made, Faria is there with his file, showing the player exactly what he needs to do on the pitch.
That sight will be no more at Old Trafford as Faria has decided to leave his role at Manchester United.
Mourinho spoke about Faria following the announcement of his decision to leave the Red Devils and said, “I will miss my friend and that is the hardest thing for me, but his happiness is more important and, of course, I respect his decision, especially because I know that we will always be together,” before adding, “The intelligent student is now a football expert, ready for a successful career as a manager.”
The final comment is perhaps the most significant and suggests Faria could be about move into a full managerial position at a football club this summer.
Faria Set to Land a Big Job?
With Arsenal and possibly Chelsea looking for a new manager ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, could Faria be about to make a massive step into management at a top club?
The competition for the Arsenal job looks tough but in reality, who out of the big name managers linked to the club are going to want the job? Max Allegri and Luis Enrique will command high wages and the promise of big money to spend in the transfer market. With no Champions League football next season, the transfer budget will be lower than the top four clubs in the Premier League and the new manager will be facing an uphill struggle in the transfer market.
This leaves the potential of three assistant managers who are looking for their first, prominent managerial job.
Mikel Arteta is currently working at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola but has strong links to Arsenal football club. Zeljko Buvac has recently left Liverpool following a great partnership with Jurgen Klopp and Faria is available. There is plenty there for Arsenal to think about.
As for Manchester United, perhaps the loss of Faria will provide Mourinho with the chance to freshen things up at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson would regularly appoint a new assistant manager and there are rumours one of his former men, Rene Muelensteen, could make a return to the club.
Muelensteen is known to like an attacking style of play and that’s exactly what the Manchester United faithful have been crying out for this season.