Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho attends UEFA Elite Coaches Forum alongside predecessors Louis van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson

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Jose Mourinho faced up to not one but two of his Manchester United predecessors as he met with Louis van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson at the UEFA Elite Coaches Forum on Wednesday.

The Portuguese has always shared a respectful relationship with Ferguson, but may have encountered a frosty reception from Van Gaal, who he has routinely criticised since taking over at Old Trafford in 2016.

They were joined by a host of other elite coaches from across Europe including Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, PSG's Unai Emery and Newcastle's Rafa Benitez at the 19th edition of the annual conference.

(Front row, L-R): Ernesto Valverde, Massimiliano Allegri, Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho, Leonardo Jardim (Back row, L-R): Giorgio Marchetti, Eduardo Berizzo, Rafa Benitez, Louis van Gaal, Aleksander Ceferin, Sir Alex Ferguson, Rui Vitoria, Pierluigi Collina

Manchester United's Mourinho and Real Madrid's Zidane arrive at the 19th Elite Coaches Forum in Nyon, Switzerland 

Sir Alex Ferguson was present as a UEFA Coaching Ambassador at their headquarters as chair of the meeting

Ferguson presents a special plaque to former United manager Van Gaal for coaching 100 European matches at club level

With Ferguson acting as chair, the meeting is designed to give Europe's most influential coaches a chance to express their concerns and exchange views on the major issues facing European competition. 

One notable absentee from the star-studded line-up of was Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has been an influential figure at the conference in years gone by.

Although his absence is unexplained, Arsenal's busy end to the summer transfer market — Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both expected to leave — makes for a fitting excuse. There was also no sight of Pep Guardiola, who is hoping to bring Sanchez to Manchester City before Thursday's deadline.

The day will also see UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin meet with former players including Peter Schmeichel and Xabi Alonso to discuss issues affecting today's stars. 

They will discuss a wide range of topics including competition rules, laws of the game, football promotion, education and post-football activities.

It was a rare sighting of former Manchester United manager Van Gaal, who has yet to take on new work since his dismissal from Old Trafford. It was a worthwhile trip as he was presented with a special plaque for managing 100 European matches at club level.

Mourinho meets and greets those in attendance as he arrives at UEFA HQ in Switzerland on Wednesday afternoon

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel arrives at the meeting and is greeted by his former manager

Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star Xabi Alonso talks to the press ahead of a former players meeting

Although winning an FA Cup at the end of a two-year spell, the Dutchman is not remembered fondly; and that is something Mourinho took advantage of when explaining his own shortcomings last season. 

After a less-than-impressive Premier League campaign, Mourinho aimed a thinly veiled dig at Van Gaal with regard to decisions he made in the transfer market. 

Speaking in March, Mourinho said: 'I found a sad club. Manchester United sold players that I would never sell, bought players that I would never buy. 

'I would have never have sold Angel Di Maria, Chicharito [Javier Hernandez] and Danny Welbeck. Never. No chance.' 

Then, in July, he followed up that comment with: 'I would like the next [Manchester Untied] manager to find a much, much better club and team than one I found at every level.'

While Mourinho has been keen to eradicate Van Gaal's legacy from the Manchester United dressing room, he has been actively seeking to keep Ferguson's. He invited the legendary manager to travel with the team to away matches and gave him free access to the dressing room after games.

He revealed earlier this year: 'At the end of games, when he [Ferguson], Sir Bobby Charlton and the CEO come down and he's the only one that doesn't come in the changing rooms, I told him this type of situation makes no sense, he needs to feel free to do what a person of his stature that represents the club can do.'

Juventus and Inter legends David Trezeguet and Javier Zanetti were both present ahead of the meeting in Switzerland

Former Milan player and manager Clarence Seedorf speaks to the media before heading into UEFA headquarters in Nyon

Former Brazil international Leonardo arrives to take part in a meeting with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin