Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham is a huge fan of Jose Mourinho and believes the English public are too.

The Portuguese tactician has been out of work since leaving Chelsea last summer but is widely expected to be appointed Louis van Gaal's successor at Old Trafford later this week.

The 53-year-old is one of the game's most successful managers, having won the Champions League with two different clubs and lifted the Premier League title on three occasions.

However, Mourinho has proven to be a controversial figure throughout his career and has not always left his former clubs in amicable fashion.

The results which cost Louis Van Gaal his Man United job 14 show all The results which cost Louis Van Gaal his Man United job 1/14 End of an era Louis van Gaal left Manchester United in fifth place in the Premier League table with a total of 66 points. 2/14 Swansea 2-1 Man Utd (30 August) As early as the sixth game of the season questions were raised over United after they were outclassed by a marauding Swansea side, with Bafetimbi Gomis continually overpowering Daley Blind. 3/14 Arsenal 3-0 Man Utd (4 October) A miserable opening 20 minutes saw United torn apart as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil ran riot. Van Gaal was lambasted for his team selection as he placed his two slowest midfielders, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick, up against a powerful and pacey Arsenal. 4/14 Crystal Palace 0-0 Man Utd (31 October) United goal drought passed the five hour mark in a miserable display at Selhurst Park. It typified all that was wrong with the Van Gaal reign, plenty of possession but without any production. 5/14 Man Utd 0-0 PSV Eindhoven (25 November) United may have dropped into the Europa League after a defeat away to Wolfsburg but it was this sterile draw that was the most damning. Utter domination from the hosts yet Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial scarcely registered a shot. 6/14 Bournemouth 2-1 Man Utd (12 December) Joshua King came back to haunt his former side after David de Gea had been beaten direct from a corner. Equally concerning was the substitutes made by Van Gaal - the introduction of Andreas Pereira, Nick Powell and, in search of a winner, Phil Jones, were a damning indictment of United's lack of depth. 7/14 Man Utd 1-2 Norwich (19 December) Back-to-back defeats by newly promoted sides seemed too much for Van Gaal, who would have been fuming at the way the far from spectacular Cameron Jerome was able to amble past the defence on his way to goal. 8/14 Stoke 2-0 Man Utd (26 December) Louis van Gaal admitted he could quit after United fell to a fourth straight defeat away at Stoke. Winless in seven in all competitions, United dropped to sixth in the Premier League after goals from Bojan and Arnautovic. 9/14 Man Utd 0-1 Southampton (23 January) United slumped to their second home defeat of the season with Charlie Austin's late header proving to be a decisive blow at Old Trafford. Louis van Gaal's side appeared to have turned a corner against Liverpool but their dull, drab football returned against the South Coast side. 10/14 Sunderland 2-1 Man Utd (13 February) A run of encouraging games for Van Gaal but soon United were brought crashing back to earth with a 2-1 defeat to relegation threatened Sunderland, with a second half in which the visitors offered little to threaten Sam Allardyce's men. 2016 Getty Images 11/14 FC Midtylland 2-1 Man Utd (18 February) The Danish side, playing their first competitive game in 10 weeks, eased past a pitiful United side, with only Sergio Romero keeping the scoreline competitive. 12/14 West Brom 1-0 Man Utd (6 March) The Baggies secured their first home league win against United for 32 years thanks to Salomon Rondon's strike. 13/14 Tottenham 3-0 Man Utd (10 April) Spurs blew the Red Devils away in six second-half minutes. Dele Alli slotted home and Toby Alderweireld headed home a second before Erik Lamela wrapped up a miserable afternoon in north London for the visitors. 14/14 West Ham 3-2 Man Utd (10 May) The Hammers secured a fitting send off at the Boleyn Ground thanks to Winston Reid's later winner. Defeat meant United's Champions League destiny was no longer in their own hands. 1/14 End of an era Louis van Gaal left Manchester United in fifth place in the Premier League table with a total of 66 points. 2/14 Swansea 2-1 Man Utd (30 August) As early as the sixth game of the season questions were raised over United after they were outclassed by a marauding Swansea side, with Bafetimbi Gomis continually overpowering Daley Blind. 3/14 Arsenal 3-0 Man Utd (4 October) A miserable opening 20 minutes saw United torn apart as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil ran riot. Van Gaal was lambasted for his team selection as he placed his two slowest midfielders, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick, up against a powerful and pacey Arsenal. 4/14 Crystal Palace 0-0 Man Utd (31 October) United goal drought passed the five hour mark in a miserable display at Selhurst Park. It typified all that was wrong with the Van Gaal reign, plenty of possession but without any production. 5/14 Man Utd 0-0 PSV Eindhoven (25 November) United may have dropped into the Europa League after a defeat away to Wolfsburg but it was this sterile draw that was the most damning. Utter domination from the hosts yet Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial scarcely registered a shot. 6/14 Bournemouth 2-1 Man Utd (12 December) Joshua King came back to haunt his former side after David de Gea had been beaten direct from a corner. Equally concerning was the substitutes made by Van Gaal - the introduction of Andreas Pereira, Nick Powell and, in search of a winner, Phil Jones, were a damning indictment of United's lack of depth. 7/14 Man Utd 1-2 Norwich (19 December) Back-to-back defeats by newly promoted sides seemed too much for Van Gaal, who would have been fuming at the way the far from spectacular Cameron Jerome was able to amble past the defence on his way to goal. 8/14 Stoke 2-0 Man Utd (26 December) Louis van Gaal admitted he could quit after United fell to a fourth straight defeat away at Stoke. Winless in seven in all competitions, United dropped to sixth in the Premier League after goals from Bojan and Arnautovic. 9/14 Man Utd 0-1 Southampton (23 January) United slumped to their second home defeat of the season with Charlie Austin's late header proving to be a decisive blow at Old Trafford. Louis van Gaal's side appeared to have turned a corner against Liverpool but their dull, drab football returned against the South Coast side. 10/14 Sunderland 2-1 Man Utd (13 February) A run of encouraging games for Van Gaal but soon United were brought crashing back to earth with a 2-1 defeat to relegation threatened Sunderland, with a second half in which the visitors offered little to threaten Sam Allardyce's men. 2016 Getty Images 11/14 FC Midtylland 2-1 Man Utd (18 February) The Danish side, playing their first competitive game in 10 weeks, eased past a pitiful United side, with only Sergio Romero keeping the scoreline competitive. 12/14 West Brom 1-0 Man Utd (6 March) The Baggies secured their first home league win against United for 32 years thanks to Salomon Rondon's strike. 13/14 Tottenham 3-0 Man Utd (10 April) Spurs blew the Red Devils away in six second-half minutes. Dele Alli slotted home and Toby Alderweireld headed home a second before Erik Lamela wrapped up a miserable afternoon in north London for the visitors. 14/14 West Ham 3-2 Man Utd (10 May) The Hammers secured a fitting send off at the Boleyn Ground thanks to Winston Reid's later winner. Defeat meant United's Champions League destiny was no longer in their own hands.

But Beckham is adamant the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid coach has struck a chord with football fans on these shores.

"Unfortunately this is how football is," the ex-England captain said of Van Gaal's dismissal.

"But there's no disputing Jose is one of the best managers in football.

"I love Jose. I think he's an incredible manager, a great person, and he's passionate about the game.

"The English public love him. The fans love seeing him on the sideline, they love his character," Beckham added.

Mourinho is set to become United's third manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 and will be expected to reclaim the Red Devils' place amongst the elite.