Here, we look at how the two compare.

EXPERIENCE

Ferguson recently completed 22 years at the helm at Old Trafford and shows no sign of letting up. His managerial record, which also takes in eight seasons at Aberdeen and four at St Mirren, is outstanding and he remains very much at the top of the game. His 13 league titles - which include three with Aberdeen - and two Champions League wins - completely put Mourinho in the shade.

Mourinho is one of the most successful and coveted managers in Europe. He also boasts an impressive record, even if it is some way short of Ferguson's. He never played professionally but was a keen student of the game and worked his way into management after serving as Sir Bobby Robson's translator at Porto in the early 1990s. He managed Benfica and Leira before shooting to prominence with Porto and Chelsea.

EUROPEAN PEDIGREE

Ferguson enjoyed his first success in continental competition as far back as 1983 when Aberdeen won the European Cup Winners' Cup. He won that trophy again with United in 1991 and then oversaw Champions League success in 1999 and 2008.

Mourinho has two European trophies to his name having followed up Porto's Cup Winners' Cup win in 2003 with Champions League success the following year. He twice went close with Chelsea, in 2005 and 2007, but his side lost out to Liverpool on both occasions.

FORM

After a shaky start to the season, United have moved into third place in the Barclays Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. They are well placed to retain their title should they hit form in the second half of the season.

Inter disappointed in Europe last term but still came away with the Scudetto and Mourinho has maintained their fine domestic form this season. Inter have won their last seven games to open up a six-point lead at the top of Serie A.

PAST ENCOUNTERS

Ferguson and Mourinho first went head to head during Porto's glorious Champions League run of 2003-04. Mourinho famously set off on a run down the touchline in celebration after a later equaliser at Old Trafford put United out on aggregate at the last-16 stage. Ferguson claimed afterwards that Porto benefited from a number of refereeing decisions. They maintained a fierce rivalry throughout Mourinho's three years at Chelsea. After one Carling Cup tie in January 2005, Mourinho used the word "cheat" when complaining about a referee he felt Ferguson had unduly influenced. Mourinho has the edge in their head to head, with the Scot having only beaten him once, in a Premier League game in November 2005. Mourinho beat Ferguson fives times as Chelsea boss, including in the 2007 FA Cup final.