Report: Mourinho pens 6-page letter to United in hopes of being appointed manager

Jose Mourinho is job hunting, and he's prepared a special cover letter for the hierarchy at Manchester United.

His resume is plastered in the annals of European football history, so he can probably leave that part of the application package at home.

The former Chelsea bench boss, fired by the Blues in December, has reportedly written a six-page letter in an attempt to convince the Old Trafford brass that he is the ideal candidate to replace under-fire manager Louis van Gaal - the latter, who watched Saturday as his side slumped to another drab defeat, is expected to leave the club at season's end.

Related - Louis van Gaal: Manchester United fans 'are right to boo'

Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC reports that the Portuguese - realizing some at United are concerned by his history of controversy, dour defensive football, and an unwillingness to develop younger talent - has reached out to assuage those doubts.

Delaney explains:

Conscious of opposition to his appointment among some of the Old Trafford hierarchy, Mourinho has written a six-page letter explaining how much he desires the job and would be willing to conform to club principles, as well as offering a detailed plan for the team, sources say.

Mourinho was widely thought to be the leading candidate for the United job in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013, prior to the club's ill-fated hiring of David Moyes.

Delaney, however, reports that there is now more openness amongst the team's front office to the idea of bringing the well-travelled coach aboard.