When Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as Manchester United boss back in 2013, the burning question for football fans worldwide was who would fill the Scot's deep and illustrious shoes.
After David Moyes' hand-picked appointment from Everton by Ferguson himself, one particular name - who many had already handed the Old Trafford hot seat to - seemed to fall by the wayside.
True, Jose Mourinho was then already predisposed in Spain with Real Madrid, but with the former FC Porto and Chelsea coach reportedly missing life in the Premier League and England as a whole, further enquiries as to his availability were not forthcoming from the then champions, as might have been posed.
Mourinho and Ferguson shared a special relationship
Such was the respect between the two managers - even during their times spent vying for supremacy on many a league battlefield - many assumed Sir Alex was grooming his Iberian prodigy to take over when his time as a manager had passed.
The special relationship the duo shared seemed past the obligatory boundaries of managerial conduct. Many a glass of Merlot was toasted even in loss to one another. From the time Mourinho toppled United with Dragões en route to the European crown in 2004, the respect has been there.
In many ways, the friendship seemed like the perfect arrangement. After a less than cordial parting of ways with The Blues on now two occasions, becoming The Red Devils boss in the future is not such a stretch to contemplate. Now more than ever.
United links to Mourinho re-emerge
Since Mourinho's untimely end of his second spell in charge in West London and with Louis van Gaal's struggles continuing in the dugout, links to a rapid switch north to Manchester have surfaced.
Reports - denied by his agent - a few weeks ago suggested that the 53-year-old, two-time Champions League winner had written a six-page letter as to why he would be perfect for the job, should the position become available.
Mourinho has been linked to the Paris Saint-Germain post but is thought to favour staying in England to work. Some may see the recruitment of Mourinho as the perfect solution to United's woes - almost seamless - given his position as a free agent in the ever revolving managerial landscape.
Of course, nothing is perfect in football, however. The Portuguese's appointment likewise, may not be as immaculate as many would have you believe.
Moyes and van Gaal struggles highlight pitfalls
Following van Gaal's appointment as United head coach after the 2014 World Cup, the Dutchman was heralded as the right man for the job. It soon came to light alas, that the former Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss was not going to enjoy the success he experienced in his past years.
After the sheer unequalled success that both his and Moyes' predecessor enjoyed during a near 25 year plus era, the incumbents task had become almost a poisoned chalice. Success was demanded.
Moyes was given less than a year after losing the dressing room and similar waters are never far away from being sailed with van Gaal. Should Mourinho come in, success would surely be a foregone conclusion. Or would it?
Mourinho has never been a swashbuckler
Critics of van Gaal have rapidly increased in number over the last few months, mainly for his richly entrenched pass-but-hold philosophy - despite hitting a purple patch of late. For the most part, United have lost their effervescent attacking verve, to the chagrin of some quarters of the fanbase.
If the terraces wanted a new man in to guide them from an attacking viewpoint, Mourinho should be towards the bottom end of the replacements list.
The phrase 'parking the bus' is now in common use in football and goes hand in hand with 'a game of two halves' and other folklore. Let us not forget, however, that particular cliché in the modern game was almost self-patented by Mourinho himself. Certainly in his time at Stamford Bridge.
Has the Portuguese damaged his reputation?
Apart from those other factors, the ugly fallout during the last months of his second spell with Chelsea has somewhat tarnished what has been a largely unbroken track record. Yes, The Portuguese has had public and closed-doors fallings out with his squad, but never to the extent he had with the almost vigilante nature of his dismissal, through the loss of belief of his players.
That is all too evident with the individuals Guus Hiddink has now guided toward a resurgence, unbeaten under the former Netherlands international boss, as they are.
After Eva Carneiro-gate, we may never truly know what happened behind the scenes. What we do know, is that his charges merely refused to sweat for him once said incident occurred. The fact that Mourinho did suffer from player power would be a concern for a team that unfairly ousted Moyes, with the status and relative ego that goes with the club.
As Manchester United enjoy a rare goal-laden win, the pressure on Louis van Gaal appears to have lifted temporarily. In this most unpredictable of campaigns, though, it would be foolhardy to foresee easy passage for the United boss for the rest of the season.
A run of underwhelming defeats will again intensify the scrutiny on the Dutchman, which may leave his post in jeopardy.
Ed Woodward and the Red Devil hierarchy would seem to be sticking by their man for the time being. If they did see fit to relieve van Gaal of his duties, however, perhaps Jose Mourinho - going against a tide of history, should it come to fruition - may not be the solution to United's troubles.