5 coaching jobs which Jose Mourinho could take up next

The sacked one!
The sacked one!

The self-proclaimed Special One is no longer as special as he once was and currently finds himself out of the coaching job.

This has created a lot of online banter, with detractors referring to him as the sacked one, while a global pizza brand humorously sent a tweet to United asking for a reference for a job application submitted by a 'J Mourinho' minutes after he had been sacked.

Mourinho's United sack has been a long time coming, as his negative style of football coupled with his constant clashes with his players, the media and board meant the situation at United was so hostile as to be no longer tenable.

To make matters worse, this has been a recurring theme in recent years for the Portuguese gaffer, as Mou lost his jobs at his previous two jobs in Real Madrid and Chelsea in like manner, having fallen out with key members of the dressing room at both clubs.

The acrimonious nature of his departures in recent years means that many consider Mourinho's managerial career at the top level to be finished, as United represented his last opportunity to redeem his image and it was a test which he failed woefully.

However, with 25 trophies won, Jose Mourinho is one of the most successful managers of all time (only five managers throughout history have won more) and this trophy haul shows that he is undoubtedly a tactical genius.

Even though his methods of getting his wins are not everybody's cup of tea and for all the claims of his stock has dropped, there are many roles which could still open up for him.

In this piece, we take a look at five jobs which Mourinho could take up next:


#5 Inter Milan

Luciano Spalletti is the current manager of Inter Milan
Luciano Spalletti is the current manager of Inter Milan

In just two years in the Inter dugout, Jose Mourinho guaranteed his place in the annals of the club by winning five trophies during his stay there, chief of which was the treble won in 2010 of the Serie A, Coppa Italia and UCL. It made Inter have the unique distinction of becoming only the sixth club in history and first Italian team to achieve that unique feat.

Mourinho is still fondly revered by fans of Inter and further endeared himself to the hearts of the Nerazzurri faithful when he brandished three fingers to fans of the eternal enemy Juventus at their own stadium, reminding them of his treble win with Inter (a feat Juve is yet to match).

For all the seeming progress made by Inter Milan under Juliano Spalletti who guided them back to the Champions League for the first time since Mou himself did so in 2010, there are many among the Inter fans who believe 59-year-old Italian manager is not the right coach to take Inter Milan back to their previous heights.

With the goodwill enjoyed by Jose at Inter, a chance to return to the San Siro might prove too tempting to resist, although he would do well to remember his love affair which went awry at the second time of asking.

#4 Boca Juniors

Mourinho might take a surprise dip in Argentina
Mourinho might take a surprise dip in Argentina

A more unlikely prospect, Boca Juniors currently find themselves without a manager, following the departure of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who departed the club immediately after the Copa Libertadores loss to River Plate having been in charge for two and a half years.

The Buenos Aires club have set their sights extremely high by declaring they would do all they can to get to get the managerial icon, with reports even going as far as to state that former player Esteban Cambiasso has been lined up to be his assistant, with the Argentine having enjoyed an excellent playing career under Mourinho.

While the move might seem far-fetched, the urge to move away from a very toxic European media, as well as the chance to prove himself on another continent which happens to favour his ultra-pragmatic defensive style of football might swing the pendulum in favour of Mourinho taking this job.

#3 Chinese clubs

Football revolution has started in China
Football revolution has started in China

Another offer which could likely come to fruition. The Chinese Super League has seen a steady influx of top playing and managerial talent in recent years, following the massive investments to make the league more global.

The CSL currently boasts of players like Hulk, Oscar, Jackson Martinez, Odion Ighalo, as well as top-level managers like Giovanni Trapattoni (who is currently the highest paid manager in the world following Mou's sack), Andre Villas-Boas, etc who have all proven themselves on the European stage in the past.

Jose Mourinho has defended players' decisions to move to China for a huge payday in the past, stating that "The money is huge, "and the experience can also be very interesting."

Hence, it would not be too far-fetched to see him moving onto a lucrative role to be in charge of a CSL club, as only Chinese clubs could arguably match the huge financial remuneration he enjoyed at Manchester United.

The only snag to him getting moving to China would be his ego, as the 55-year-old is known to be a very proud man, extremely confident in his abilities, hence he would believe he still has a score to settle with his detractors (media and pundits) who consider him finished on the top level.

The only way to silence them would be by accepting another top-level job in Europe and performing well.

#2 Portugal

Mourinho is still a loved figure in his country
Mourinho is still a loved figure in his country

Jose Mourinho has stated in the past that he one day dreams of coaching the Portugal national team, but stated immediately before the World Cup that he was "not close at all" to realizing his ambition, revealing that while he had grown "tired" of club football a few years ago.

His desire for day-to-day involvement in the game had been reinvigorated since taking over at Manchester United. His stand might have changed though after the recent events which unfolded at Old Trafford and it is not hard to imagine Jose having grown tired of the constant scrutiny and bi-weekly press conferences where he has to face the media which detests him (almost as equally as he detests them).

Hence, the national scene where the scrutiny is not as intense might offer a reprieve for Mourinho who looked exasperated at times during some of his very frequently tense press conferences.

Current Portugal boss Fernando Santos sees his contract expire in 2019 and the 64-year-old might see the opportunity of signing out with victory in the first ever Nations League on home soil as the perfect way to bow out of a highly successful spell in charge of Le Selecao which could perhaps pave the way for Mourinho to take charge earlier than expected.

#1 Real Madrid

Perez remains a keen admirer of Jose Mourinho
Perez remains a keen admirer of Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho managed Real Madrid for three seasons between 2010 and 2013 and while he had the most expensive squad in history during his spell in charge, he did not leave on the best of terms, having failed to break Barcelona's hegemony and fallen out with key players at the club.

The manner in which he fell out with players in the dressing room might represent a snag to his return to the Bernabeu, especially as one of the players who he fell out with - Sergio Ramos remains at the club.

The Real Madrid captain wields such power that he was instrumental to Conte not getting the Madrid job having been in pole position following Lopetegui's sack when he stated that 'respect is earned not demanded'.

A factor in favour of Mourinho, however, is the respect of club president Florentino Perez still possesses for him and reports from highly instrumental figures within the club suggest that the Madrid supremo is lining up a move for him to return to the Bernabeu.

Quick Links