Jose Mourinho is reportedly keen on making a shock return to Manchester United, six years after he was sacked by the club. The Portuguese manager, who was recently dismissed by AS Roma, believes he has unfinished business at Old Trafford and wants to replace Erik ten Hag, who is under pressure following a poor start to the season.
Mourinho’s turbulent tenure at Man Utd
Mourinho was appointed as Man Utd manager in May 2016, succeeding Louis van Gaal, who had won the FA Cup in his final game. Mourinho signed a three-year contract with an option for a further year and was tasked with restoring the club’s glory days after three seasons without a Premier League title.
Mourinho’s first season at Man Utd was a mixed bag, as he won the EFL Cup and the Europa League, but finished sixth in the Premier League, 24 points behind champions Chelsea. He also clashed with some of his players, notably Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial, and criticised the club’s transfer policy.
Mourinho’s second season at Man Utd was slightly better, as he finished second in the Premier League, 19 points behind rivals Manchester City, and reached the FA Cup final, where he lost to his former club Chelsea. However, he failed to progress beyond the last 16 of the Champions League, where he was knocked out by Sevilla, and continued to have a strained relationship with some of his players and the board.
Mourinho’s third season at Man Utd was a disaster, as he oversaw the club’s worst start to a Premier League campaign in 28 years, losing six of his first 17 games. He also fell out with Pogba, who he stripped of the vice-captaincy, and had a public spat with the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over the lack of signings in the summer. He was sacked on December 18, 2018, with the club sixth in the table, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Mourinho’s post-Man Utd career
After leaving Man Utd, Mourinho took a break from management until November 2019, when he replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur. He guided Spurs to sixth place in the Premier League in his first season, securing a Europa League spot, but was sacked in April 2020, just days before the League Cup final, which Spurs lost to Manchester City.
Mourinho then joined AS Roma in May 2021, signing a three-year deal with the Serie A club. He had a promising start to his tenure, winning his first 10 games in all competitions, leading them to the Europa Conference League title in 2022 and the Europa League final in 2023. However, his form soon deteriorated after he also had disagreements with some of his players and the board over the transfer policy and the club’s performance. He was sacked by Roma on January 16, 2024, after a poor run of form in Serie A and a defeat by city rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia. He was replaced by the club’s former captain Daniele de Rossi.
Mourinho’s desire to return to Man Utd
According to the Daily Mail, Mourinho is targeting a sensational comeback to Man Utd, if the club decides to part ways with Erik ten Hag, who is facing the wrath of the fans and the new owners, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Mourinho is convinced that he still has unfinished business at Old Trafford and wants to prove his critics wrong.
However, Mourinho’s chances of returning to Man Utd seem very slim, as he is past his coaching prime and has lost his touch in the modern game. He is also unlikely to be considered by INEOS and Ratcliffe, who are looking for a more progressive and innovative manager to lead the club into a new era. Mourinho’s reputation and legacy at Man Utd have also been tarnished by his turbulent tenure and his subsequent failures at Spurs and Roma.
Therefore, Mourinho’s dream of returning to Man Utd seems to be just that – a dream. He will have to look elsewhere for his next challenge, as he is still eager to continue his managerial career. He has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, where he has expressed his interest in working in the future, as well as with the national teams of Portugal and England, after the World Cup in Qatar. Wherever he goes, Mourinho will always be a controversial and divisive figure, but also a fascinating and charismatic one.
