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Phil Neville: 'Jose Mourinho is a proven champion'

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville believes that Jose Mourinho will succeed at the club, but doesn't see the Portuguese boss as a long-term fix.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville has said that he believes Jose Mourinho is the right man to take over from Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

Mourinho has been linked with the post ever since he was sacked by Chelsea in December, but the speculation grew following United's FA Cup triumph over Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday.

An official announcement is expected on Monday to confirm Mourinho as the new United boss, but while Neville believes that he will succeed at the club, he doesn't think that it is a long-term fix.

"I can't see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years, that seems to be his shelf life at a football club. When Jose finishes at a club it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips. It happened at Chelsea, it certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"It's a pattern with Jose, he comes into a club, he gets success but he doesn't stay for too long. He's a proven winner, a proven champion. United fans want a team that will challenge for the league title, not a team that finishes seventh or fifth, and Jose is probably the man for the job. Knowing Jose as I do, I think he will have done his homework and he's meticulous in his planning.

"Don't be surprised if United in the next month, and particularly before the Euros, sign three or four players and when he gets to pre-season he has his squad already in place. He knows who he wants and at the start he will demand United sign those players for United to become championship challengers again."

Mourinho has won eight league titles in four different countries, including three with Chelsea in the Premier League.

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Barney Corkhill
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Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal pictured in 2010
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