Tell Ralf Rangnick to emulate the Manchester United managers who have come before him and he might rightly roll his eyes.
The track record of those thrown into the fire of the Red Devils dugout leaves a lot to be desired.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson called time on an unmatchable career, none of his successors have lasted longer than three years.
David Moyes fell at the first hurdle, sacked just 11 months into a contract that only expired in 2019.
Louis van Gaal made it to the two-season mark, something Jose Mourinho just fell shy of.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cleared a pair of full campaigns, before being replaced by Rangnick in December.
Each coach left the club on a sour note, some certainly more than others. Hence why the current boss would be wise to avoid copying their blueprints, which have been torn up and trodden on.
However, if Rangnick is to take something from his predecessors, January would be a good place to start. As it stands, no new faces will be walking into Old Trafford this month.
Outgoings remain the top priority, with the likes of Donny van de Beek and Jesse Lingard possibly following in the footsteps of Anthony Martial.
Just sit tight for January
Although some United fans might be itching for an announcement video to pop up on their computer screens, history suggests this lack of movement isn’t always a bad thing.
Van Gaal didn’t make a single signing in his first winter market at the helm, and went on to win the FA Cup. Neither did Mourinho, who secured League Cup and Europa League glory later on in the season.
Solskjaer’s debut January window in charge also ended without a single recruit. He reached two cup semi-finals and was offered the job on a permanent basis.
Even Ferguson failed to add to his squad in the year the winter window was born. United won their 15th league title not long after.
Moyes is the only man to have acquired someone in his opening tenure during this particular month, signing Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37 million (BBC).
If Rangnick continues this theme, who knows what rewards lie around the corner?
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