Faria is just one of a number of names being linked with the Villa job.
Aston Villa are likely to appoint a new manager with the international break taking priority over the next fortnight and Axel Tuanzebe will surely have his favourite when it comes to picking the right man for the job.
The Guardian claim Villa have drawn up a five-man shortlist that includes Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, Belgium assistant Thierry Henry and Brentford boss Dean Smith.
The report has also linked former Manchester United assistant Rui Faria, who worked under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford until he left the club to spend more time with his family.
Tuanzebe, 20, remains on the books at United and worked under Faria during the Portuguese’s two-year spell at United following Mourinho’s appointment as manager at the club.
Faria has worked as Mourino’s assistant throughout the former Chelsea manager’s career, following him to Inter Milan, Real Madrid, back to Chelsea and then United – after first working with Mourinho as fitness coach at FC Porto.
Surely then, given that they worked together at United, defender Tuanzebe will be hoping his side place faith in Faria over favourite Henry.
Brendan Rodgers has spoken out on the interest from Villa, stating that he is happy at Celtic, while Smith has a contract at Brentford until the summer of 2020.
With Faria out of work, he would be the easiest to approach as no compensation would be required. But it remains to be seen if Villa will move for a man that is likely to be Tuanzebe’s preference.
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