Jose Mourinho’s comments about his 'dream job' have resurfaced, and his choice would no doubt crown a legendary career if he were to land the role before he retires.
Mourinho was appointed manager of Turkish side Fenerbahce in June 2024. Despite being a hugely supported team in the nation, Fenerbahce could viewed as something of a step down for Mourinho - who is used to managing some of the most successful teams in Europe.
He first made his name at Porto, securing the 2004 Champions League before moving to Chelsea that summer.
Mourinho won back-to-back league Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 before joining Inter Milan in 2008.
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He won consecutive Serie A titles in Milan and led the side to a historic treble in 2010 – securing his second Champions League crown in the process.
Since then, he has managed arguably the two biggest football clubs in the world, Real Madrid and Manchester United, with a Premier League-winning return to Chelsea sandwiched in between before spells at Tottenham and Roma.
But there is one role that the 61-year-old is yet to take on.
Ex-Chelsea man Frank Leboeuf claimed that Mourinho had his eye on the Portugal job.
“I remember interviewing Mr Mourinho when he was at [Real] Madrid or Chelsea when he came over to Los Angeles,” Leboeuf told ESPN.
“He admitted that the last thing he would love to do in his coaching career would be to get the Portuguese national team job. I think that’s going to be his goal.”
Currently, Roberto Martinez is the Portugal boss, but he failed to deliver success at Euro 2024 – Portugal were beaten on penalties by France in the quarter-finals.
In May 2024, Mourinho claimed that he would be open to taking up the role in the future.
“It’s normal, Portugal,” he told EA Sports Korea via Calciomercato.com.
“I had the chance to go twice, but they didn’t come at the right time for me. I was emotional when I rejected the last offer, because I decided to stay at Roma, and I think I made a mistake.
“Because now Portugal have a fantastic team, one of the best, in the top five. I knew it, but I felt a great connection with Roma, with the fans, so I didn’t want to make that decision.
“The Portugal job has come twice, but I think it’ll come a third time, too, and I’ll take it. Hoping that the generation I have will be as strong as this one.”
Mourinho signed a deal that will tie him to Fenerbahce until June 2026. If he were to see out his contract in Istanbul, he would be unable to manage his nation at the 2026 World Cup, which starts on June 11 that year.
Topics: Jose Mourinho, Fenerbahce, Roberto Martinez, Portugal
Luke Davies