Jose Mourinho believes that he has what it takes to one day take over from Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United's manager.

The ‘Special One' has revealed that he fully expects to be in the reckoning when the legendary Ferguson, whose side are edging ever near to winning an historic quintuple this season, finally decides to call it quits at Old Trafford.

Mourinho's table-topping Inter Milan travel to United this Wednesday for the return leg of their last-16 Champions League clash with the Red Devils.

Having drawn the first leg 0-0 at the San Siro, Inter will fancy their chances of creating a major upset by dumping Ferguson's men out of the competition they won last May in Moscow.

Such a result would, once again, place Mourinho under the spotlight and add yet more credence to rumours that he is already being targeted as Ferguson's replacement.

"I have big jobs left in me that is for sure - but I can't commit to which ones," the News of the World quoted Mourinho as saying.

"If you want me to rule out ever being Manchester United manager I can't.

"Special clubs need special managers so in theory it could work, but nobody knows what the future is in football.

"The England national team wanted me as coach and that is the biggest job in England.

"So I am sure when Sir Alex retires they will look at the best managers in the world and I certainly fall into that category.

"How much time I can't say, Sir Alex doesn't look like he is ready to stop. But when you are managing a winning team you don't want to stop - and if you have health then there is no reason to."

Despite Mourinho's assertions that he may, one day, be leading United into battle, heavyweight personalities in the English game are unsure as to whether or not it would ever happen.

United defender Rio Ferdinand has already gone on record to say that Mourinho would be an ideal candidate to replace Ferguson, whilst Old Trafford legends Sir Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson remain doubtful that the former Chelsea manager's style of football would ever be welcome in Manchester.