As the curtain dropped on his two and a half year spell at Old Trafford, speculation started at where Jose Mourinho will go next. He will be in high demand, but just where will the Portuguese manager end up next?
What Next For Jose?
Return To Madrid?
A return to Real Madrid would certainly make sense. It is the current favourite at the bookmakers for where he is most likely to next manage. The Spanish side will be looking for a new manager at the end of the season. Santiago Solari is only in caretaker charge after Real Madrid sacked Julien Lopetegui. With Cristiano Ronaldo now at Juventus, he could return to the Bernabeu without the pressure of their toxic relationship.
While it is a possibility, Real Madrid may opt for a different approach. Famous for their attacking, opting for Mourinho would mean a conservative style. Will they be willing to return to that? It remains to be seen.
Portuguese National Job
Many are predicting Mourinho’s next move to be this job. Current boss, Fernando Santos, is 64 and has managed the side for the past four years. He took them to World Cup Finals this year as well as winning the 2016 European Championship. Inevitably, he will call time at some point on his stint as manager. It will then be likely, that Mourinho would be one of the favourites to take over. However, will Mourinho want the uncertainty of not knowing when Santos will leave? It is unlikely that he will want to wait.
MLS or Chinese Super League?
The name of Mourinho will be an attraction to any club. The MLS and Chinese Super League look for the big names to attract people to watch their league. Therefore, Mourinho could be tempted to work in either of these leagues; should they offer the money to do so.
There would only be a handful of clubs they may actually be able to attract him to America. One would be LA Galaxy, who have attracted the big names in football to come and play for them for a while now. Another possibility would be for him to link up with David Beckham’s new club, Inter Miami CF. Beckham will be looking for a high profile name to lead his new team.
A New Venture In Germany?
Although just six points behind rivals Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich have not been impressive this season. Niko Kovac has faced pressure throughout this season. If they do not win the Bundesliga nor Champions League, he may find himself out of a job. Mourinho may be the perfect replacement, as he is someone who knows how to win trophies. His defensive, counter-attacking approaching may also be well suited to the Bundesliga.
Verdict
It is most likely that his next job will be the Portuguese national job. It releases the pressures of club management and he would take pride in managing his country. Wherever he may end up, it is likely that he will achieve great success.
