Jose Mourinho's new Manchester United mission: Manager is on the way with band of brothers ready to carry out masterplan

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At Chelsea, the entrance to Jose Mourinho's office was guarded by a pair of life-sized cardboard cut-outs of the man himself.

Shelves were replete with books on the same subject and his pens and pencils were kept tidy inside a 'Special One' mug. What else would you expect from one of football's most narcissistic front men?

He is not afraid of the attention. Let's be honest, he enjoys it, but Mourinho does not pretend to be a one-man act. He has a band of brothers who he trusts implicitly, and together they shape training and the working environment. 

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is expected to succeed Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford

The Portuguese is set to be joined at Manchester United by his trusted long-term assistant Rui Faria (left)

Rui Faria has been with Mourinho for 15 years, since they joined forces at Uniao de Leiria in Portugal.

Silvino Louro is a long-standing family friend who has worked with him since Porto in 2002. Together these three have won the lot.

Carlos Lalin, a fitness expert who met Mourinho at Real Madrid and later moved to Chelsea but was sacked last year, could join them at Manchester United.

When Team Jose arrived at Chelsea in 2004, with Andre Villas-Boas and Baltemar Brito in the ranks, they were already cocksure, often found holding court and generating ideas in the Italian restaurants of West London. 

Brito, since retired, was a sounding board and Villas-Boas was the chief opposition scout and analyst, a vital role taken later by Jose Morais.

Two days before a match, Mourinho puts on a meticulous session based on the way the opposition play, followed by a 20-minute video briefing, previously generated by Villas-Boas or Morais. The day before a game, training is lighter, more fun. 

Faria, who started out as a fitness coach, still organises many of the warm-up and warm-down drills. He is the closest to Mourinho in a working capacity. He understands the manager's thought process. 

Silvino Louro is the second Mourinho disciple likely to make the switch from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford

Faria relays instructions to Eden Hazard on the touchline during a trip to Stoke City while Mourinho was banned

Mourinho has charm and charisma to spare but believes that, to be at his best, he must be alert and aggressive. Part of this charade is the familiar defence of his players in public against criticism and foul play, shielding them from pressure, attacking the FA and referees, and stirring trouble in rival camps.

There is also an internal element which never went down well at Chelsea. He spoils for fights with colleagues, be that Frank Arnesen, Michael Emenalo or individuals within the medical department.

He relies heavily on Faria as his eyes and ears — fuelling him with information and opinion. 

On the touchline, Faria is a menace and deeply unpopular, certainly from the point of view of opponents and fourth officials.

There is more to him. He is a university graduate who studied alongside Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal, and can be fun. He was less abrasive during the second spell at Chelsea, apparently.

Faria is the one who talks most often with players; the coach who challenges them and exerts pressure when deemed necessary. 

Louis van Gaal was sacked by Premier League side Manchester United this week despite winning the FA Cup

Van Gaal leaves United as a FA Cup winner following Saturday's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Wembley

Louro has a fierce temper, but is laid-back and more likely to cuddle a player and offer a wise word. As a goalkeeper, he won caps for Portugal and is a highly regarded goalkeeping coach.

Mourinho backed Louro's judgment when it came to dropping Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, just as he did when he recommended Petr Cech over Carlo Cudicini.

On their return to Chelsea, Roman Abramovich wanted to keep Christophe Lollichon as goal- keeping coach, so Mourinho brought in Louro as an ally.

At United, Louro is expected to take over from Frans Hoek as goalkeeping coach. Faria is the obvious replacement for first-team coach Albert Stuivenberg, which leaves space for Ryan Giggs.

Mourinho will appreciate the presence of a United man. At Chelsea, he summoned club legend Steve Clarke, who was coaching in the youth ranks, and appointed Brendan Rodgers as Clarke's replacement.

At Inter Milan he promoted Giuseppe Baresi, brought in Aitor Karanka at Real Madrid and Steve Holland stayed in the coaching team when Mourinho returned to Chelsea. When you see how others have struck out into their own managerial careers, this can be sold as an opportunity for Giggs. 

Carlos Lalin (left), a fitness expert who met Mourinho at Real Madrid, could also join him at United

Ryan Giggs is weighing up the offer of a more junior role than the position he held under Van Gaal this season

'They don't find my office locked or files hidden under the bed,' said Mourinho. 'Everything is there for them. They work for me but they have the chance to learn, the chance to study, to be part of discussions and part of my training process.

'I am very happy to support them when they are working for me. I am very happy to help in their formation in the same way Bobby Robson did with me and the same way Louis van Gaal supported my formation. When they fly and they fly well, I am happy for them.'

Morais was the latest to 'fly'.

Now in charge of Antalyaspor in Turkey, he leaves an obvious vacancy in the back-room team as the chief opposition scout. 

'Jose Mourinho marks you for life,' said Morais, in an interview with the Mail on Sunday. 

Mourinho places huge trust in his backroom staff which included Faria and Steve Holland (centre) at Chelsea

Mourinho was greeted by members of the press as he left his home in central London on Tuesday

But once outside, in opposition, they are treated like other enemies, as Villas-Boas, Clarke and Rodgers have found.

If he accepts a job, Giggs will be expected to commit to the Mourinho mind-set. Both are ruthless, serial winners, so it may not be as difficult to find common ground as one might imagine.

This applies to the squad, too. The notion Mourinho does not trust young players is arguable. He signed Lassana Diarra and John Mikel Obi. He trusted Alvaro Morata and Raphael Varane at Real Madrid.

Mourinho's football is about a strong defence and a fast and intense attack. He has a system he knows will deliver success, his own way of applying it and an eye for those players he can work with to produce it.

He sizes them up quickly and, when it comes to the young players, his decisions are based on attitude and application as much as ability.

Mourinho signed Lassana Diarra (right) at Chelsea after the Frenchman, then 20, impressed at Le Havre

The Portuguese coach also signed highly-rated young defender Raphael Varane (left) while at Real