Jose Mourinho is the biggest and most successful manager tipped to replace Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United.
Newcastle United appear to be at risk of scaring Jose Mourinho off with the Northern Echo claiming that one of the world’s most esteemed coaches is uncertain about taking over a club mired once again in such instability.
The Newcastle fanbase was left seething with much-maligned owner Mike Ashley again this week when it was announced that Rafa Benitez would be walking away when his contract expires at the end of the month.
If there is a positive that can be taken out of losing the club’s best manager since Sir Bobby Robson, however, it is that so many coaches from around the world are keen to replace Benitez.
The Echo claims that Claudio Ranieri, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Slavisa Jokanovic, David Moyes and Laurent Blanc are keen. Perhaps only Blanc is capable of lacing Mourinho’s boots in terms of reputation and silverware, however, even if the Portuguese tactician’s reputation has taken a battering thanks to the way his spell at Manchester United came to an end.
With Mourinho burning his bridges in Spain, Italy and seemingly elsewhere in England, the 56-year-old appears to have emerged as a genuine option for a Newcastle side once managed with such distinction by his friend and mentor Robson.
But that does not mean that a serial winner is ready to mull around in mid-table.
The Northern Echo reports that Mourinho wants to know exactly what Newcastle’s ambitions are and, as long as they remain shrouded in mystery, he is likely to continue lurking in the background.
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