If Jose Mourinho leaves Manchester United… where next for the ‘Special One’? (Image: GETTY)
Tottenham’s 3-0 hammering of the Red Devils on Monday evening has fuelled further speculation as to how much time Mourinho has left at Manchester United.
One of the highest-paid managers in world football is unlikely to walk away from such a lucrative role, but Ed Woodward and co. could decide to relieve the Portuguese coach of his duties should the crisis deepen at United in the coming weeks.
Before storming out of his post-match press conference on Monday evening, the former Chelsea boss demanded respect for the three Premier League titles he has won during his two spells in England.
And despite his arrogance, Mourinho is right. Should he be sacked by United, it would not take long for the 55-year-old to walk into another top job. But it seems as though there is not many realistic positions available for the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’.
Real Madrid
Mourinho isn’t afraid of returning to clubs he has previously worked at. After popping back to Chelsea for a second bite at the cherry, the Blues won the Premier League title for the fourth time before it all went horribly wrong for their messiah.
Madrid achieved success under Mourinho before his departure back in 2013, where the Portuguese coach claimed he had endured the ‘worst season of his career’.
Despite managing in Spain during a time when Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona were undoubtedly the best side in the world, Mourinho won the La Liga title in 2012, ending a four-year league drought for Los Blancos.
However, the manager’s time in Spain was filled with controversy.
Mourinho failed to see eye-to-eye with key stars such as Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas, who he eventually dropped from the first-team.
But Florentino Perez remains a keen admirer of the Manchester United boss, and should Julen Lopetegui fail to achieve success in the capital this term, there may be a Bernabeu return in the offing for Mourinho.
Jose Mourinho enjoyed success with Real Madrid (Image: Getty)
Jose Mourinho is fighting to save his job at Manchester United (Image: Getty)
PSG
Mourinho has tasted success in each of the four countries he has managed to date – but one top flight he has not yet had a crack at is France’s.
PSG are arguably the only French side big enough to attract Mourinho’s signature and pay his monumental wages.
And reports midway through last season suggested the outspoken coach was high on the list to replace now-former coach Unai Emery.
“The other day my son who lives in London went to Paris and not to Manchester to watch the match,” Mourinho said last year.
Asked why his son chose the French giants, the United chief said: “Because at the moment in Paris there is something special. Magic, quality, youth, it’s fantastic.”
Thomas Tuchel replaced Emery at the Parc des Princes over the summer.
Could Jose Mourinho replace Thomas Tuchel? (Image: Getty)
Serie A
One of Mourinho’s best spell of management came when he decided to coach in Serie A.
Inter Milan won every honour available to them after the former Blues boss left west London and moved to Italy back in 2008.
Mourinho picked up his second Champions League winners medal at the Serie A side but arguably left the club too soon, opting to move to Real Madrid days after beating Bayern Munich in the final.
Speaking last year, Inter chief Massimo Moratti said: “Mourinho himself regretted it even before he had made the move: a few hours later, in my office in Milan, he told me that he realised he was going to a business and not a family. Mourinho said that if he could, he would’ve remained at Inter.”
The San Siro outfit may now struggle to tempt Mourinho back to Italy unless they promise him a transfer kitty big enough to challenge the likes of Juventus and Napoli.
Luciano Spalletti is currently in charge but with the club not finishing higher than fourth in Serie A since the 2010/11 season, the need for a title-winner remains a topic of conversation with San Siro chiefs desperate to get back to their glory days.
Jose Mourinho enjoyed remarkable success at Inter Milan (Image: Getty)
Jose Mourinho won his second Champions League at Inter Milan (Image: Getty)
International football
Usually a role left until the end of a manager’s career, Mourinho could delve into international management for a reprieve of the day to day pressures of club football.
Portuguese fans would surely love the coach to return to his native country and take over the national side.
But Mourinho has admitted in the past that it is the England job he once considered taking.
“My wife told me not to take it and she was right,” he said back in 2014.
“It was the right decision. We are talking about seven years ago and I cannot wait two years for a big competition. I cannot be spending two years playing against Kazakhstan and San Marino.”
However, it seems unlikely Gareth Southgate will be replaced in the near future after the Three Lions’ World Cup run during the summer.
Third time lucky at Chelsea for Jose Mourinho? (Image: Getty)
Jose Mourinho was a translator and coach at Barcelona in the 1990’s (Image: Getty)
Barcelona or Chelsea?
He couldn’t, could he?
Only a handful of players dare to play for both Barcelona and Real Madrid during their careers and only two managers have ever coached both of Spain’s biggest clubs.
Mourinho may not be the most popular man in Catalonia but he did work under Sir Bobby Robson at the Nou Camp in the 1990’s so has experience at the current La Liga champions.
As for Chelsea, Roman Abramovich clearly holds a special place in his heart for Mourinho despite sacking him twice.
Undoubtedly Chelsea’s most successful manager in history, some fans would still need persuading if the former boss was to be given a third crack of the whip in west London.
A section of supporters vented their frustration at Mourinho last season, labelling him ‘Judas’ during a clash between Chelsea and United in the FA Cup.
The Blues are flourishing under new boss Maurizio Sarri, meaning a third stint at Stamford Bridge would not be in the near future for Mourinho.
