Five coaching options for Jose Mourinho after AS Roma sack

AS Roma parted ways with Jose Mourinho on Monday after the club’s 3-1 loss to AC Milan. The loss put them 9th in the Serie A table. The defeat follows on the heels of last Wednesday’s defeat to Lazio, kicking the Romans out of the Coppa Italia. On top of the club’s poor form, the rebellious Portuguese boss also saw two reds in just a few days.

It’s been another whirlwind coaching experience for Mourinho, deemed the ‘special one.’ So where will Jose Mourinho wind up next after his latest sacking? Let’s take a look at the possibilities.

Is Mourinho going back to the Premier League?

Jose Mourinho is no stranger to the Premier League. His first stint with Chelsea was iconic — he led the Blues to two consecutive domestic titles and an FA Cup. During the first season, he secured 95 points and allowed only 15 goals.

He snatched one more Premier League trophy upon his return to the club in 2014, reconfirming his trophy-laden reputation.

While his tenure at Manchester United and Tottenham were less memorable — of course, he takes credit for United’s last piece of silverware in the 2016/17 Europa League — he still left the league with the highest winning percentages (65%).

With Newcastle struggling this term, Mourinho could yet be on his way to ‘save’ another squad. He’s a proven trophy winner, even if the rest of his time at St. James’ Park ends in shambles.

Saudi Arabia to cold-call Mourinho?

The Saudi Pro League is another likely Mourinho destination. It’s not that he needs the money, but it may be his last call should no one else come screaming his name this time around.

But would a coach of his caliber dare venture to the Middle East, especially with apathetic audiences attending matches? Probably not, even if it was to coach Ronaldo again.

Is Mourinho the next big thing to hit the MLS?

If the Saudi Pro League is on the table, then surely the MLS must be, too. Mourinho loves stateside and would be a snag for any MLS team. Winning aside, he’d bring the arrogance and pedigree to the league it needs to keep progressing. Beckham, Zlatan, Messi, and now Mourinho?

Mourinho to reunite with Ronaldo the international stage?

Portugal is the only team in the world with a player (Ronaldo) and coach (Mourinho) to win domestic titles in three of Europe’s top five leagues: England, Spain, and Italy.

Ronaldo was stellar during his time under Mourinho, scoring 168 goals in 164 matches. 19 of those were hat tricks. Together, they won La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa.

Could we see a Mourinho-Ronaldo at the national level? Absolutely. “It’s much harder to be Cristiano Ronaldo than to be Lionel Messi,” the boss once said.

There’s also a slight possibility that Mourinho could be next in line for the England or even the USA job. Euro 2024 could be Gareth Southgate’s final bow, while this summer’s Copa America will determine Gregg Berhalter‘s future.

Back to Porto?

Could Mourinho make a sensational return to Porto, a team he miraculously guided to two Liga titles and the Champions League title in 2003/04.?

Now, this would be something and certainly can’t be ruled out. Football is unpredictable, Mourinho is unpredictable — and Porto has not won the league in a few years nor passed beyond the quarter-finals in the Champions League since Mourinho’s UCL triumph. It’s worth a shot. 🤷

José Mourinho’s winning record in Europe