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What next for Jose Mourinho?

By on December 17, 2015

In the wake of Jose Mourinho’s sacking at Chelsea, the manager is at yet another crossroads in his career. Where might he venture next?

Paris Saint-Germain

Mourinho’s storied career has taken him all across Europe, first from Porto to London, Milan, Madrid and back to England again. Logically, Germany and France — Munich and Paris, more specifically — are the next gaping holes to check off his tour off the continent. Most likely, Mourinho will wind up at Paris Saint-Germain, who are due for big overhaul in the summer with the expected departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Mourinho is already familiar with the club’s project, having been targeted by their Qatari owners during his time at Real Madrid. He has twice flown out to the Arabian Peninsula to discuss the opportunity and has spoken highly of their ambitions in the past. At the time, he turned down the possibility, but PSG’s owners are undoubtedly still keen to bring in Mourinho.

They’ve hobbled along under Laurent Blanc, winning the league in both of his two full seasons at the club along with every other domestic trophy they could win, yet PSG’s sights have always been set on the Champions League. The Parisians have been knocked out at the Quarterfinals for three consecutive seasons and Mourinho might just be the spark to lift them to their first ever taste of European glory. At this point, they might be one of the few clubs willing to take on the potential drawbacks of his third-season syndrome without any hesitation; even after his fall from grace at Chelsea, there is no doubt that Mourinho is a band of elite managers in the world.

There was a telling moment into Mourinho’s physiology during an intriguing interview on the Claire Blading show on BT yesterday, when the question was posed to him whether he would rather be judged by his successes or how he has recovered in the face of adversary. “Well, I would prefer to be judged by my victories,” Mourinho responded (he would go on to elaborate on how this season has been a learning experience for him).

The Portuguese manager would obviously have a war-chest at his disposal in Paris that might even eclipse those at Madrid and Chelsea, although his fractured relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, whom PSG have eyed for many years, might be a potential turn off for the French champions.

Inter Milan

Inter Milan were the last club that Mourinho has left on good terms. His final match during his three-year stay in Italy was the 2009/2010 Champions League final, a wonderful climax for the team of aging legends and bright young stars he had brilliantly assembled into a fault proof, winning machine; Inter shut out Bayern Munich in a confident 2-0 victory. That day, he admitted that it was a bittersweet victory given it was just a few days later that Real Madrid forked out a record breaking compensation package to Inter.

“We were very confident and it was a perfect way for me to leave such a club. A club I love so much,” he said, per ESPNFC.

“The [Inter] supporters are special. The president is more than special. It was a real family and that season we did everything. We won everything.”

In his first spell at Inter, Mourinho won the league twice and both Italian domestic cups, the Italian Super Cup and Coppa Italia, including a famous treble in his final season at the club.

After Mourinho moved to Chelsea in 2013, Inter president Massimo Moratti revealed that Mourinho had told him they would meet again in three years at Inter. It’s a slightly endearing comment, suggesting that Mourinho is aware, if not in touch, with his own limitations even if he’s never willing to admit them. The Nerazzurri are currently leading Serie A — might Mourinho be the man to lead them on a charge to dethrone Juventus?

Manchester United

Mourinho already enjoys something of a celebrity status hitherto unseen in his line of work. As he left Cobham today, a helicopter flew over the training ground and photographers flooded the gates — picturing Mourinho covering himself in a hoodie as he hops into the passenger seat of a car. A direct move to Chelsea’s title rivals, Manchester United, would bring Mourinho’s cult status to the next level.

Would either party be willing to take the leap of faith? United are rumored to have seriously considered Mourinho of the vacant position in 2013, only to opt for David Moyes as a safer bet. But in lieu of Louis van Gaal’s recent struggles, would United be willing to go a different direction with Mourinho?

This season at Chelsea was supposed to be Mourinho’s chance to prove his ability in building a dynasty, which is what United so craved after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Ultimately, it only served to diminish Mourinho’s reputation and promote the idea of his “third season syndrome.”

Mourinho would certainly have the personality to tackle United’s dilemma and it would be hard to see Mourinho turning down the opportunity if it was presented to him. Should rumors of Pep Guardiola’s potential move to Manchester City be true, United might just scramble their guns and go for the Portuguese manager. For what it’s worth, Sky Bet have him at 3/1 to move to Old Trafford.

Bayern Munich

Pep Guardiola for Jose Mourinho would be quite a switch. It’s a long shot, but as Bayern Munich prepare for the seemingly imminent departure of Guardiola, Mourinho stands out among the lineup of potential replacements alongside current Madrid gaffer Carlo Ancelotti.

Their CVs are simply unrivaled among their potential competition, although so much of Mourinho’s career is built upon ideas that directly oppose Munich’s morals, they might form a wall that is insurmountable in terms of getting a deal done. Nevertheless, it’s impossible to rule out given Bayern’s wish to reestablish their European dominance.

International management

Mourinho has previously spoke of his wish to dabble in international management sometime down the line, although perhaps he didn’t realize how soon he would be at another crossroads in his career. With the Euros next summer, however, the opportunity will certainly be available to him sometime over the next year. Many have touted him as Portugal’s next manager and others have even linked him with the England job — Mourinho himself has claimed to have received offers from both nations.

Whether he is ready to make the jump just yet, however, is yet to be seen. His options, other than those aforementioned, appear limited. A return to Real Madrid would be highly unlikely for another few years at least and a move to Monaco also seems a long shot. Let’s remember, though, that for all that Mourinho has done he is only fifty-two-years-old.

Photo credit: Ronnie Macdonald, via Flickr

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.