It’s an open secret that Jose Mourinho will be leaving Real Madrid this summer but where next for the Portuguese? Bettingpro.com’s Neil Roarty takes a look at five options for the world’s most famous football manager
Jose Mourinho proclaimed himself ‘The Special One’ when he arrived at Chelsea from Portugal and ever since then he has lived up to his billing with titles in England, Italy and Spain. There is a very real chance that he will become the first manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs this season but even that looks unlikely to keep him at Real Madrid.
Mourinho’s relationship with the Madrid hierarchy has broken down to the point of no return and he will be leaving the Bernabeu this summer. There will be no shortage of suitors for the Portuguese but where would be the best fit for one of football’s biggest characters?
Manchester United
Replacing Sir Alex Ferguson is just about the most difficult task in football but if anyone can do it then it is Mourinho. The Portuguese has the ego required to take on the mantle of not only the world’s biggest club but to do so while still commanding the respect of players who have only known success under one man. The Old Trafford crowd may take a while to warm to Jose, after his touchline exploits with FC Porto and his spell at Chelsea, but he ingratiated himself to the Manchester United fans when describing the Red Devils as the better team during the recent Champions League match with Real Madrid.
Manchester City
If he doesn’t end up at Old Trafford then there is every chance that Jose will still be in Manchester next season as City’s patience with Roberto Mancini can’t be infinite. The Italian made way for Mourinho after failures in Europe at Inter Milan and there would be a certain symmetry if the same thing was to happen again. Mourinho won the Champions League in his second season at Inter but with a bigger budget he could well do it faster at Manchester City.
Chelsea
Chelsea need a manager as there is no chance that Rafa Benitez will be given the job on a permanent basis in the summer. Mourinho is the bookmakers’ favorite and the prospect of him returning will please Blues fans. However, would Roman Abramovich re-hire someone that walked out on him once and would Jose be keen to work under the Russian again? If both men can put aside their egos then it would be a perfect fit but that is a big if.
AC Milan
Mourinho and Balotelli together again in Milan? There’s certainly hope of that happening as AC Milan have gone downhill in recent seasons and Silvio Berlusconi is likely to make dramatic changes in the summer. There is thought to be money available to launch a title challenge against all-conquering Juventus and Mourinho would be the perfect man to spearhead the charge. He didn’t get on too well with the Italian press though so it’s slightly uncertain whether he would accept an offer from the San Siro
England
Roy Hodgson’s position as England manager appears secure at the moment but he is only one poor result away from being fired and the recent furore around Rio Ferdinand has hardly strengthened the 65-year-old’s case for being the man to lead the Three Lions to Brazil 2014. Mourinho may be Portuguese but he has previously hinted that he would be open to working with England and he may not be able to resist the lure of the World Cup. Winning that trophy with England would ensure his place in history as the greatest of all time and that is hard to pass over.
Written by Neil Roarty from Bettingpro.com, the number one source for sports betting tips, breaking news and expert views.