Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Jose Mourinho: The one reason Laurent Blanc is shock favourite for Man Utd job
LAURENT BLANC has emerged as the shock frontrunner to take temporary charge of Manchester United because the club want someone who has links with the club, according to reports.
Mourinho: Michael Carrick to take over until replacement found
Blanc is now the favourite to take over from Jose Mourinho who was sacked on Tuesday morning after just over two and a half years at Old Trafford.
United confirmed that Michael Carrick would be put in charge for just TWO days and said they would appoint someone to guide them until the end of the season within the next 48 hours.
**PREDICT FIVE RESULTS AND WIN £25,000 - FREE TO PLAY HERE**
And The Mirror claim the board are keen to appoint Blanc because of his experience as a boss and the fact he spent two years at Old Trafford as a player between 2001 and 2003.
Blanc was a hit at United as a player and helped them to the Premier League title in 2002/03.
And his credentials as a manager could appeal to the club as they look to turnaround what has been a dreadful season so far.
The Frenchman, 53, led Bordeaux to a first Ligue 1 title in 10 years in 2009 - a year that also saw them win the Coupe de France to claim an historic double.
He then took over as France national boss but was sacked following defeat by Spain in the quarter-final of Euro 2012.
After moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2013, Blanc claimed three Ligue 1 crowns in succession and added five more domestic cups to his trophy cabinet.
He left PSG by mutual agreement in June 2016 after failing to deliver the Champions League trophy.
But he remains one of Europe’s most highly-rated managers.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also reported to be in the frame but he lacks experience and had a disastrous time in the Premier League while manager of Cardiff.
Solksjaer, 45, is an Old Trafford hero, though, and was said to be in the frame when Mourinho was under pressure back in August.
He scored the wining goal in the 1999 Champions League final and only five players have scored more Premier League goals for United than he has.