Could Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur be selected by ‘The Special One’?
The controversial manager was spotted house-hunting in London this week, but where will he next choose to manage?
Chelsea
Jose Mourinho and Chelsea have a special history. He helped them win their first league title since the 1950s in his very first season in 2004-05 and followed up the success a year later. His dismissal was surprising, but surely owner Roman Abramovich now realises this was his biggest mistake. Current manager Andre Villas-Boas is jumping on thin ice right now and fears his days are numbered. If Mourinho returns to Chelsea he will demand ‘no meddling’ but would surely love the challenge to carry on what he started.
Spurs
Tottenham are at present flying above Chelsea in third, and may be able to offer Mourinho Champions League football, which Chelsea may not. Harry Redknapp is the England manager in-waiting, and it is 50-50 at best that he will still be at the club next season. Mourinho would see Tottenham as an ideal challenge, to take a team up to the next level, which is already very close, as he did when he took over Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea. There is no doubt Mourinho could turn Spurs into genuine title contenders, and that would be worrying for the rest of the Premier League.
Arsenal
At present Arsenal seem a more unlikely destination for Mourinho, in comparison to their London rivals. But Arsene Wenger’s position is likely now more under threat than any other time in his tenure. Arsenal are facing up to their seventh year without a trophy, and supporters are growing restless. Mourinho’s style of football is not always appreciated wherever he goes, but his Madrid side have been scoring for fun this season and are set to win La Liga. He may not please everybody, but surely he would increase Arsenal’s chances of winning trophies?
England
What if Mourinho was house-hunting in London because he wants to take over from Fabio Capello? Stranger things have happened, who saw Capello resigning before the Euros in the first place? Mourinho may see the job as a way of recharging his batteries, while he waits for Sir Alex Ferguson to retire and make the Manchester United job available. He was close to managing England once before, and like all managers the opportunity to coach an international team will be on his to-do list.
Inter Milan
Inter are going through a desperate phase at present, and can’t stop losing. They may not even qualify for the Champions League this year, a competition Mourinho led them to winning in 2010. He is still revered at Inter, with manager Claudio Ranieri, who he replaced at Chelsea, almost certain to be sacked. Yes Mourinho has been spotted house hunting in London, but nothing is signed yet, and he could still be tempted to make a return to answer Inter’s SOS.
Where do you think Mourinho will go, or will he stay at Madrid?
image: © apasciuto
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