Jose Mourinho has been made the bookies' favourite to become the next manager of Manchester United.

The Portuguese, sacked by Chelsea on Thursday afternoon, has long had a soft spot for United and wanted to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson retired from Old Trafford in 2013.

Mourinho is heavily favoured with both BetVictor (11/10) and Paddy Power (6/5), the only two bookies who are currently offering odds.

The next men in the frame for the job are Pep Guardiola and Gary Neville (shortest odds at 3/1) and Carlo Ancelotti (shortest odds 4/1).

United considered Mourinho, who eventually returned to Chelsea, but instead pointed David Moyes who lasted a disastrous nine months in charge. United are said to have been worried that the Portuguese is 'too difficult to control'.

Mourinho is said to have cried when he found out he wouldn't get the job.

Ferguson, who has tried to distance himself from being the man who chose David Moyes as his successor, said Roman Abramovich would be foolish to sack Mourinho in the middle of the season, calling him "one of the best coaches of all time".

"I think he has sacked so many coaches in the last 10 years that I am sure he has learned by it. [Abramovich] has to trust and have confidence José can turn it around, there is no point in sacking one of the best coaches of all time," said Ferguson on 7 December.

"[Mourinho] has won the European Cup twice, he’s won the league in each country he’s managed in, he’s won the big trophies. It would be foolish for him to take that step to sacking him. That would be bad management; it is not leadership, that."

Current boss Louis van Gaal has been in charge of the club since the summer of 2014 and led the club back to the Champions League last season.

Jose Mourinho's season in quotes Show all 10 1 /10 Jose Mourinho's season in quotes Jose Mourinho's season in quotes On the Eva Carneiro row 'You have to understand the game even if you’re a kit man, a doctor or a secretary on the bench' Reuters Jose Mourinho's season in quotes On the Eva Carniero row (ii) 'I was unhappy with my medical staff. They were impulsive and naive' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes After 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace 'We didn't deserve to lose. But Palace gave us a very difficult game. The result should be a draw, which would still be bad for us. We did enough not to lose' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes After 3-1 defeat at Everton 'I am not feeling pressure. The results are the worst in my career. They are not adapted to my quality, my status, but I am coping well with the situation. I am the man for the job. I don't think there is better man who could come and do my job' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes After 3-1 home defeat to Southampton 'When we are at the top I understand that there is quite a big pleasure in putting us down but when you are down I think you need to be a bit honest and to make clear that the referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea”. "I repeat, if the FA want to punish me, they can punish me, they don't punish other managers, they punish me - it's not a problem for me. But I want to repeat because I think my players deserve it, I think our fans deserve it and I am a Chelsea fan too. I want to say it again: referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes To referee Jon Moss, a comment that got him sent to the stands at West Ham 'Wenger is right about you… you are f****** weak' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes After being fined £50,000 for his comments about officials being 'scared' to award Chelsea decisions 'I'm happy I don't have an electronic tag' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes Refusing to answer any questions after Chelsea are beating 3-1 by Liverpool 'I have nothing to say. I have nothing to say. I have nothing to say. I'm so sorry. I have nothing to say' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes After Glenn Murray's offside goal gave Bournemouth a famous win 'In the moment when our opponent were thinking just about defending a clean sheet they cross the halfway line for the first time and scored. If it was offside it is another episode that goes against us, but I did not' Jose Mourinho's season in quotes After defeat to Leicester City on Monday 'One of my best qualities is to read the game for my players and I feel like my work was betrayed'

However, the Dutchman has spent almost £300million during his time at the club, with no huge improvements in the way they play. The club crashed out of the Champions League at the group stages last week, into the Europa League, while Van Gaal has received strong criticism for the way the team plays.

The Red Devils have scored just three goals in the last six matches at Old Trafford and 21 in 16 Premier League matches this season - Leicester City have scored 34.

It may not seem as far-fetched as one might imagine.

THE OTHER OPTIONS

Paris Saint-Germain

Ambitious Paris St Germain look on course for their fourth successive domestic title in France, where Laurent Blanc has guided his men to a 17-point advantage at the top of Ligue 1. However, success in the Champions League has so far proved beyond them. Mourinho could be the missing piece in the puzzle and he may be enticed by the Parisians' spending power.

Bayern Munich

This European powerhouse could soon have a managerial vacancy if Pep Guardiola elects to venture to England after this season. Like PSG, Bayern have a stronghold on their domestic title in Germany and are another club who have aspirations of winning the Champions League in a country where the much-travelled Mourinho is yet to manage. However, Carlo Ancelotti has already agreed a move in principle.

Real Madrid

The Portuguese's bridges might have previously been burned in the Spanish capital, but he was at the helm when they secured their last La Liga title in 2012. Madrid are famed for dispensing of coaches and, if they lag behind Barcelona for another campaign, it would not be a huge shock to see them turn to Mourinho once more to try and wrestle back control.

Inter Milan

One place where Mourinho is still held in high regard is at Inter. There was an outpouring of emotion from fans and players alike when he departed after winning the treble in 2010. Maybe a return to Chelsea has put him off going back to another club where he enjoyed great success, or perhaps the lure of an adoring fanbase could drag him in. Roberto Mancini has things under control at the minute, though.

The Middle East or MLS