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Jose Mourinho backs Manchester United assistant Rui Faria for Arsenal job

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Jose Mourinho recommends Arsene Wenger successor to Arsenal — The Portuguese manager believes his No.2 is ready to take the reins (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho believes his assistant manager and big friend Rui Faria has what it takes to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

The veteran French coach will leave the Gunners after 22 years at the end of the season, though his final campaign will not end in glory after his side were knocked out of the Europa League by Atletico Madrid on Thursday night.

A host of managers have been linked with the soon-to-be-vacant post, from Luis Enrique to Max Allegri, while Faria has also been mooted as a potential option.

Faria has been part of Mourinhos coaching team – initially as a fitness coach – since 2001 at Portuguese side Uniao Lieira, but the United boss would give him his blessing if Arsenal come calling.

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Asked if Faria would be a good fit for Arsenal, Mourinho said: I think so, yes. You ask me if I think it would be a good fit and I say: Yes. And I say it because he is more than my assistant, he is my friend.

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If my friend has the possibility one day of a big job, I would help him to pack and to carry the bags and to wish him luck.

So if one day that is going to happen, the first one to be happy would probably be myself because I met him when he was a kid in his university and we were together for 18 years.

He added: He is a big friend, more than an assistant. So if one day the moment arrives, I will be very happy.

Faria is believed to want to move into management after several years as Mourinhos right-hand man, having first taken on an assistant managers role when the pair returned to Chelsea for a second spell in 2013.