Manchester United assistant manager and longtime friend of Mr Mourinho, Rui Faria will leave Old Trafford after the FA Cup final. After nearly 20 years, 6 clubs and a cabinet full of trophies Faria believes it’s the right time to be leaving in order to spend more time with his family.
Manchester United broke the news on its official website on Saturday, with Faria saying he will walk away to “spend much more quality time with my family.”
Faria added his gratitude to United:
“I would also like to thank Manchester United and all the clubs where I have had the privilege of working during this period. I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all the staff and players who, in different ways, have made an important contribution to my growth as a person and as a professional.”
Rui Faria had special praise for Mourinho; “My heartfelt thanks go to the manager, Jose Mourinho. for the belief, he had in me, all those years ago. when it all was just a student dream. I would like to thank him for the opportunity and confidence, for the knowledge and experience, but most importantly for his friendship.”
Mourinho, of course, wanting to pay tribute to Rui Faria said “17 years…in Leiria, Porto, London, Milan, Madrid, London again and Manchester. Training, playing, travelling, studying, laughing and also a few tears of happiness.”
Arsenal Job in the reckoning for Rui Faria?
In what has been a trend for Arsenal. Faria was another in a long line of assistant managers supposedly destined for the Arsenal job. Although Martin Lipton of The Sun noted how Faria risked being “blackballed” by Mourinho if he joined the Gunners.
The special one continues to endorse his longtime friend and assistant manager. With Mourinho on record stating Rui Faria does have the credentials to succeed Arsene Wenger, who will step down after 22 years at the helm in north London. Mourinho even said he would help his friend pack his bags for the trip, per BBC Sport.
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick will join the coaching staff full time when he retires from playing this summer. Although he is not expected to be considered for the assistant manager’s position.
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