The way Jose Mourinho has been speaking in Istanbul over the past few days, it appears he sees a return to the Premier League as inevitable. And he would see that, obviously. Because no-one has greater self-belief in football – probably in life – than Mourinho has.
To have his searing over-confidence must be quite something. In the wake of more grandstanding touchline nonsense during the unremarkable match between Fenerbahce and Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday night, Mourinho was trying to be funny when suggesting he needs to go to an English club that is unlikely to feature in UEFA competitions.
It was half a joke because there is no way Mourinho sees his managerial career being on a downward trajectory. He would still fancy himself as a contender for one of the plum Premier League jobs he has not already had. And there are not many of them.
That is not going to happen, although you might not put it past the Saudis to give him a crack at Newcastle if Eddie Howe ever leaves. If Mourinho was being realistic, he might fancy his chances of a Premier League return to somewhere such as Crystal Palace.
Everton might have been an option but his predictable fallout with Roma owner Dan Friedkin, who looks certain to take over at the Merseyside club, should put pay to that for the time being. But, amongst the clubs in the bottom half of the table who Mourinho referred to, there might well, at some point, be a temptation to hire him, if only for the publicity.
After all, he was once again widely referred to as ‘box office’ in the build-up to the Fenerbahce-United game. The temptation, though, should be resisted at all costs. Ignore the cameo in Turkey this week and remember how sour his time at Old Trafford became, despite those early minor successes.
Or remember his disgraceful verbal assault on Anthony Taylor in a car park after Roma lost the 2023 Europa League final. Taylor would later be harassed, abused and threatened by Roma fans at Budapest airport.
Going further back, remember him poking Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova in the eye in 2011. Remember, also, his regressive tactics, his unimaginative style of play. Remember how it is all about him.
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Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
For any Premier League club that likes to see itself as progressive – indeed, for any competition that sees itself as progressive – recruiting Mourinho would be a backward step. It has not gone spectacularly badly for Mourinho in his short time at Fenerbahce but nor has it gone spectacularly well, a defeat at Galatasaray being the low point.
Your money is on him lasting a season, tops. That is probably why he is, essentially, making himself available to Premier League clubs. Don’t fall for it. He might be box office … but he is also a disaster movie waiting to happen.
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