Jose Mourinho is on the brink of going an entire season unbeaten with Benfica in Portugal, but with Chelsea looking for a new manager, it has not taken long for Mourinho to be linked with a return.
Mourinho remains a Chelsea legend, largely thanks to his first spell at the club in which he became the ‘Special One’. He guided Chelsea to two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.
He returned for a second spell to win another Premier League title, and a third League Cup. There is no doubt that Mourinho has earned iconic status at Chelsea and remains one of the league’s best-ever.
Does Jose Mourinho have a point?👀
Since his second spell at Chelsea, Mourinho has risked his affection with Blues fans by managing both Man United and Tottenham. More recently, he’s been in charge of Roma, Fenerbahce and now Benfica.
Ben Jacobs shares what Chelsea are saying about Mourinho
But with Chelsea on the lookout for a new manager, it was inevitable that Mourinho would eventually be linked. The Blues are keen on hiring a manager with Premier League experience and Mourinho has it.
As things stand, the three leading candidates for the job are Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso and Marco Silva. Talks have started with Iraola’s representatives, while more negotiations are scheduled with Fulham’s Silva.
Reports this week state that actually, Alonso is the leading candidate. He might not have managed in the Premier League, but was a star in Liverpool’s Champions League-winning side under Rafa Benitez.
But what about the chances of Mourinho returning, a man who still has a house in Chelsea where his family still resides? Ben Jacobs told Give Me Sport that his sources at Chelsea have always played it down.
“What I can tell you there is that Mourinho is the leading candidate for Real Madrid, at least as far as Florentino Perez is concerned. Chelsea sources have always downplayed the possibility of a return.
“And if Mourinho’s not going to go to Real Madrid, then we should also keep an eye on the Portugal national team because Roberto Martinez is expected to depart once the season ends,” Jacobs continued.
Mourinho would unite a disconnected fanbase at Chelsea
It feels unlikely. To see Mourinho return for a third spell as Chelsea manager has always felt far-fetched, but this is Mourinho, and this is Chelsea. When the two are connected, genuinely anything can happen.
Xabi Alonso is the BEST candidate for the Chelsea job 👌
There is a bitterness regarding his sacking, but Mourinho remains a Chelsea legend, and Blues fans would adore his return. The fanbase is largely disconnected from the side at the moment, despite Sunday’s win.
There have been boos, protests, and anger emanating from the Chelsea stands. That is on BlueCo’s shoulders, and Mourinho may have his doubts over working with Chelsea’s current ownership and team.
Five sporting directors is going to put off any manager worth their salt. But if Chelsea want success, then hiring a manager who reconnects the fans and challenges the set-up will help. The ‘Special One’ would.
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