EPL loses 'Special One' but courts another

And then there was one ...

After the spectacular implosion of the Jose Mourinho regime at Chelsea, there is now just one world-beating coach left in the global game with a glittering curriculum vitae unsullied by the stain of any striking failure.

Step forward then Pep Guardiola, whose announcement on Sunday that he plans to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season simply makes him Europe's most wanted, the one man that every major club in the world who could afford him will have on their Christmas wish list.

After spells at Barcelona and Bayern that have been laden with trophies, Guardiola wants a new challenge - and England is calling.

Actually, make that Manchester shouting the loudest.

Expect Manchester United, currently suffering a thousand agonies under the prosaic leadership of Louis van Gaal, to start making eyes at the Spaniard as discontent with Van Gaal rumbles ever louder.

So far, United have shown, publicly at least, no interest in the 44-year-old as they stand by their not-so-flying Dutchman.

Yet now Guardiola is free and rumour continues to spread that he supposedly has United at the top of his wish list, that could change as swiftly as United's fortunes deteriorate.

Especially with Van Gaal's old veneer of self-confidence gradually beginning to evaporate.

Asked after United's 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich City on Saturday if he feared for his future, he said: "Yes of course I am worried about that because I know that belief in a manager is very important".

Across town Manchester City and their Abu Dhabi owners have been courting Guardiola for so long and so assiduously that it would be no surprise if an agreement has already been put in place for him to join their money-no-object project next season.