Wayne Rooney picks Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Jorge Sampaoli in Ballon D'or coach of the year - the men linked to Louis van Gaal's job as Manchester United boss

Wayne Rooney's picks for Coach of the Year at the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony were for the three managers most strongly linked with replacing Louis van Gaal.

He also selected Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller above former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo in the player vote.

The England and United captain made Jose Mourinho his first selection, followed by Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola and Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli.

The award was won by Luis Enrique but Rooney did not deem the Spaniard worthy of a vote, despite the fact he guided Barcelona to the treble last season. 

 

And it was another Barcelona hero who took the player award, as Messi beat Ronaldo to win his fifth Ballon d'Or with almost 14 per cent more votes.

But Rooney's choices make interesting reading. Mourinho has been continuously linked with the managerial job at United, with his departure from Chelsea coinciding with a slide in form at Old Trafford under the Dutchman Van Gaal's risk-averse style of play.

While the Portuguese is the obvious front-runner for any vacancy which could emerge from a Van Gaal departure, Guardiola would also be considered after announcing he is leaving Bayern at the end of the season.

Sampaoli, meanwhile, is perhaps an alternative name but led Chile to the Copa America title as host nation in 2015. 

On the list published by FIFA on its official website it was revealed that England Manager Roy Hodgson  picked Cristiano Ronaldo, the  eventual winner Lionel Messi second, with Chelsea winger Eden Hazard in third.