Chelsea icon Mario Melchiot believes Jose Mourinho is unlikely to return to England after achieving so much in the Premier League during his glistening managerial career. The former Dutch defender discussed Mourinho’s future after being sacked by Roma, and even brought up the vacant Liverpool gig as Jurgen Klopp gets ready to say his goodbyes.
Mourinho has achieved everything there is to achieve in English football. He won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three League Cups during two stints with Chelsea while another League Cup and a Europa League trophy were bagged at Manchester United.
The only club he wasn’t able to win anything at was Tottenham Hotspur where he spent a torrid 17 months. Mourinho’s trophyless spell at Spurs would leave a bad taste in the Portuguese manager’s mouth – and perhaps something left to prove for himself in England.
But Melchoit, who played for the Blues between 1999 and 2004, insists Mourinho is more likely to become England’s new manager than return to the Premier League – where there will most likely be some vacancies come the end of the season with the Liverpool job up for grabs. He exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “Do I see him coming back to England? I’m not sure. Why would he?
“He has done so many great things in this country. He had two spells in charge of Chelsea and was successful in both, he’s also managed Manchester United and Tottenham before going out to Italy.
“I just don’t know what else he’d need to prove in England. What is he going to do next? Go to Liverpool? Probably not. I suppose the only job he might take in England, now, is the national job.
“It’s something that has been spoken about in the past and, personally, I think that would just come down to what the FA want from their next manager. Then you’ve got to ask whether or not Jose wants to slow down…
“Taking a national job is a sign of a manager slowing down because the demands of that kind of role are completely different to those within club football management. Everyone knows how he likes to play, so you’ve got to look at that, too.
“His style of play… does that suit England right now, and where they want to be? If England want him, then he’s a great name to bring in when Gareth Southgate moves on, for sure.”
It appears the most likely next destination for Mourinho is Saudi Arabia. Mourinho has already admitted that he expects to take a job in the Saudi Pro League before he retires. Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate’s immediate future as England manager doesn’t appear to be under any threat.
