Jose Mourinho has had a glittering managerial career, but even his most ardent of fans would have to admit that the last decade or so has been pretty bland by his standards.
The legendary manager recently hinted that although he remained motivated at Fenerbahce, a move to the Scottish Premiership with Celtic or Rangers could appeal in the future. It would certainly freshen up a managerial career otherwise heading towards a stale end.
Making his name at the top of the game after guiding Porto to the Champions League in 2004, Mourinho’s time at Chelsea elevated him to becoming one of the world’s best managers.
Titles galore at Inter and Real Madrid followed before his return to Stamford Bridge, where he delivered a third Premier League championship in west London.
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But since then, spells at Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Roma have all ended on sour notes – with even Chelsea sacking him for a second time after their 2014/15 title defence got off to the worst possible start.
Now at Fenerbahce at age 62, Mourinho has almost become more known for his outbursts than his on-pitch success, while mooting that he could be on the move again in the future as his time in Turkey threatens to reach boiling point, with the Portuguese suing Galatasaray after being accused of making a racist comment.
And with the ex-Blues boss never one to hang around, we have taken a look at eight teams he may consider joining if and when the time to leave Istanbul arises.
1 Rangers
Speaking ahead of Fenerbahce’s last-16 Europa League tie against Rangers, Mourinho appeared to hint that a move to the SPFL could be one that piques his interest in the future.
He told reporters: “People can say that the Scottish league is a league of two teams, but it’s a league of passion. It’s a league of passion. And for me, passion in football is everything.
“And Celtic and Rangers, they are big clubs with big fanbases, with big emotions, big responsibilities, big expectations. Why not?”
He reiterated that he is not looking to move, but it seems clear that a move to Glasgow somewhere down the line is on his radar.
Rangers are more in need of a new boss at present, and with Barry Ferguson only in interim charge for the moment, there’s plenty of time for things to go wrong at Fener, leading to Jose packing his bags.
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Should Rangers snub him in the summer (or vice-versa), Mourinho could wait for an opening at Celtic, with modern-day European success the only thing missing from the Bhoys’ current period of dominance.
Brendan Rodgers’ side acquitted themselves far better in this year’s Champions League, with the Hoops appearing to benefit from the new league phase.
But it was ultimately the same old story as they bowed out in the knockout play-off round against Bayern Munich, leaving them to settle for another potential domestic treble.
The prospect of reproducing the glories of Celtic’s European heyday will surely be an enticing one for Mourinho, while his cries for an emotional crowd will no doubt be fulfilled at Parkhead.
3 Newcastle United
There have always been whispers of Jose Mourinho joining Newcastle United, almost as if it is destiny.
The well-established links between himself, the club and ex-manager Sir Bobby Robson are all too apparent, with the pair having worked together at Sporting CP, Porto and Barcelona.
These rumours intensified in the wake of the Tynesiders’ takeover by PIF in 2021, though the club opted to replace then-incumbent Steve Bruce with Eddie Howe – a decision which looks a vindicated one.
But should the vacancy become available in the next few years, you can bet Mourinho will be in the frame. It will just depend on whether he can stomach another Premier League return.
4 Manchester United
Speaking of returns, a redemption job could be right up Jose’s street. Despite winning the Europa League and EFL Cup in his spell at Old Trafford, Mourinho ultimately failed to restore the Red Devils as a Premier League powerhouse.
But if he wished to prove that there was plenty of life in the old dog yet, being the one to finally transform United’s fortunes for the better after a number of ill-advised appointments could even provide Mourinho with a fine platform on which to bow out of the game one day, just as Sir Alex Ferguson did himself.
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Following the theme of redemption, Mourinho’s career could yet come full circle upon a return to Benfica, where he had his first senior managerial role.
Benfica are currently in the Portuguese title race and the knockout stages of the Champions League, but their domestic dominance has somewhat waned in recent years, while they continue to be plagued by Bela Guttmann’s so-called curse in Europe.
While Mourinho surely has the tactical mind to patch things up at the Estadio da Luz, he claimed in 2019 that he was not ready for a return to the Portuguese league, so it is perhaps doubtful that he has changed his mind since.
6 Paris Saint-Germain
If there’s one thing Mourinho’s detractors would put to him amid his successes at Chelsea and Real Madrid, it’s the fact that he has often utilised a large chequebook to build his trophy-winning teams.
On the flipside, you could argue that he is better at managing players at the highest level, as his so-so spells at Tottenham and Roma may suggest.
PSG are one of the privileged few who have little concerns over the finances, leaving the manager to build as he pleases and focus on Europe rather than the league – something that would appeal to the desperate Qatari owners in Paris.
So if Mourinho fancied one last shot at the Champions League, PSG would surely be the ready-made club to satisfy all parties.
7 Wrexham
While this would be a longshot, there is some logic to a potential path that sees Jose Mourinho end up in charge of Wrexham.
Not only do they have (relatively) rich owners, Mourinho claimed earlier this season that a team outside of European football may appeal to him.
Whether in jest or not, Mourinho appeared to have grown frustrated after being sent off against Man Utd in the Europa League back in October.
He said after that game (via The Leader): “I think the best thing I have to do is when I leave Fenerbahce, I go to a club that doesn’t play UEFA competitions.
“So, if any club in England from the bottom of the table needs a coach in two years, I am ready to go.”
Given Wrexham’s rapid rise, who knows where the Red Dragons will be in two years’ time? There is every chance they will be a Championship club by then, with the Hollywood-backed club aiming to earn a third successive promotion in 2024/25. Could Jose be the man to take them to the next level?
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If all else fails, Mourinho could always turn to international football with Portugal. While it involves far less of the hustle and bustle of regular league matches, adding the World Cup or European Championship to his already impressive repertoire of honours could ensure a lasting legacy.
Mourinho would encounter limitations in terms of squad-building, but being responsible for potentially creating history for his nation would surely be a crowning achievement for someone who is a self-proclaimed ‘Special One’.
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