Things can change very quickly in football and just because Jose Mourinho signed a contract extension with Manchester United last week there are no guarantees that he’ll still be at Old Trafford in 2020.

Indeed, it was only a few weeks ago that reports were suggesting the Portuguese coach would leave United for Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

Mourinho has never lasted more than three seasons at any one football club - so the chances of him leaving a Sir Alex Ferguson-esque legacy are pretty slim.

United’s hierarchy know there’s a chance that things could take a turn for the worse under Mourinho, based on his track record.

And as a result, they are still thinking of coaches who could potentially replace the 55-year-old if worst comes to the worst.

The manager United want to succeed Mourinho

According to the Manchester Evening News, there’s one man are the top of United’s wish-list to succeed Mourinho.

Clue: he got one over Man Utd on Wednesday night.

Yep, that’s right, it’s Tottenham’s Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The M.E.N claim that United officials have long-admired the 45-year-old, who is seen as the “ideal candidate” to eventually replace Mourinho at Old Trafford.

The bookies' favourites to replace Mourinho

As things stand, Pochettino is currently the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next Man Utd boss, priced at 3/1.

Next on the list are Massimiliano Allegri (8/1), Joachim Low (8/1), Diego Simeone (8/1) and Carlo Ancelotti (8/1).

But, for the time being, United fans are more than content with Mourinho.

Mourinho delighted after signing new deal

“I feel a privileged one to work with such a fantastic group of boys,” the former Chelsea boss said after signing his new contract last week. “That was my initial contract, for three years. Now we made the decision to make it clear for everyone: it’s not for three, it’s for four or five and, who knows, [maybe] more.

“I don’t sign contracts if I am not happy so I am really happy with the trust, with the empathy. I did new contracts with Chelsea after being champion, in Inter after winning the Scudetto, Real Madrid after winning La Liga. Here it’s just a consequence of my work, and we believe in each other, we are happy with each other.

“I think I am doing the things that the owners and the board feel are the right things to do for the ­future of the club and they are showing me also their ambition, their commitment, their desire to go in the right direction.”