Hiring Mourinho would cost Inter in the region of £79million

Barcelona have gone with Pep Guardiola, Real Madrid are sticking with Bernd Schuster. AC Milan insist privately that Carlo Ancelotti will remain, even if the club do not qualify for the Champions League, and will groom Alessandro Costacurta, his assistant and a local hero, as his successor. This leaves Inter Milan as the only stellar club that may require José Mourinho next season, although the combined cost of losing Roberto Mancini and appointing the special one are estimated at ¤100 million (about £79 million).

Inter are on course for a third consecutive Serie A title and inheriting such an established level of success is not Mourinho’s style. The way he sees it, what is special about following a well-trodden path? Maybe he should have taken the England job after all. Who would have thought it?

DEBATE: Is José Mourinho still special? Would you give him a top job? Have your say, by filling in the comment field at the bottom of this post.

Comments

[Joseph Sexton]

"although the combined cost of losing Roberto Mancini and appointing the special one are estimated at ¤100 million (about £79 million)."

What?!?

Where are those figures coming from?

[James Mann]

With all that has gone on at ManCity in the past few months, I believe the only thing Dr Thaksin could do to restore the fans' faith in his stewardship of the club would be to recruit Mourinho at any cost. We may not be a "big club" in the mould of Inter or Barca, but I'd be surprised if the challenge of turning us into a power in football did not intrigue him. I suspect he'd also relish the thought of getting up SAF's nose! If Dr T can promise him significant transfer funds and a free hand he'd be mad not to come, especially with most of the alternative vacancies already filled.

Or is he waiting to see if SAF retires after the CL final?

Mourinho for City? YES! YES! YES!

[chris reid]

Message from a city fan to jose. We don't care how you get here, just get here when you can.

[Paul Kelso]

Has everybody forgot that there is a major tournament coming up very soon where many vacancies are sure to arise?

I wouldn't be surprised to find Jose taking on a freshly vacant national job after the finals have finished (i.e. Portugal is an obvious choice but perhaps the ultimate underachievers Spain?).

[Drew]

mourinho is an entertaining fella, but i wouldnt ever want him to manage my team manchester united! the style of football that his teams play were sucking the life out of football! chelsea were dour and unattractive - very much a physical side who bullied teams out of the running. don't get me wrong, his record is very impressive and im not goin to say chelsea didnt deserve those two championships, but the style is not in keeping with what i regard entertaining football. good to see my team winnin back to back titles with fast, attacking, entertaining football! and his CL with porto - i seem to remember a horrendous decision by the linesman denying paul scholes a perfectly legitimate goal that would have put united 2 up and through! luck plays a big part in the CL, thats why u cant call rafa benitez a great manager!

[Joseph]

It's hard to imagine that Jose would compromise on his style and approach. I'm not sure Presidents at Europe's top clubs would allow Jose all the freedoms that he had at the start of his time and Chelsea. Even clubs like Madrid and Barcelona want to win trophies but only by playing football the right way. Perhaps he would be better suited to Italy. His record speaks for itself.

[James D]

I think any chairman thinking of hot-dialing to Portugal should be wary that they are selling their sides footballing soul. Mourinho is the best manager in the world at winning games, but as Sam Allardyce or indeed Avram Grant may yet tell you, often winning is not enough.

However, If Mr Mourinho fancies the Hawthorns as opposed to the San Siro, I'd welcome him with open arms.

[Adam]

He's still special, there's no doubt about that given his track record but it doesn't seem likely that he's going to get his pick of the top jobs next season.

Perhaps it's because at the top clubs in the top European leagues relative success and the money it brings is more or less guaranteed. Mourinho probably makes winning a trophy more likely than the next guy but he doesn't guarantee it. In which case why would an egocentric chairman hire him for significantly more money than Pep Guardiola or Alessandro Costacurta are going to cost and then have to deal with the inevitable histrionics. The answer's obvious to me but then what do I know about running a football club? Moreover, the fans of the big clubs aren't screaming for him either because his teams are seen (unfairly in my book) as dull and functional.

I wonder whether Mourinho regrets not taking on the challenge at Tottenham Hotspur. As ambitious board, a full stadium every week, a decent squad and money to spend. The club has the potential to succeed and the credit for taking the club to the next level would have been his and his alone. There's not many clubs like Tottenham in Europe at the moment, the second rung clubs in Italy and Spain don't seem to have any cash - Valencia being a particularly good example.

Still, if Mourinho did take over at a middle range club and knocked one of the big boys off their perch I imagine they'd be on the phone to him pretty sharpish.

[Bob Greenaway]

Somehow I doubt if Inter will appeal,there will be pressure to win the Italian title as of right.His style is very reminiscent of Brian Clough,simple & overbearing.He needs a club with a massive budget looking to restore fallen glories,Man City would seem to fit the bill providing he can establish the chairman/owner will not dabble-somewhat debateable.How he would relish having a crack at "Sir" as the local underdog.What a mouthwatering prospect.

[Davie P]

Avram's not THAT good. Contrary to popular belief, when he took over prior to the Manu game, both were on 11 points from 6 and utd had +1 goal. So Avram lost 2 points and 18 goals to manu over the bulk of the season.
Maybe not so bad, however he:
a) had the full backing and non interference of Roman
b) flopped in the league cup final
c) lost to Barnsley in the FACup when all the big 4 were already out.
At least he got that bit of luck vs. Liverpool that jose didn't.

[Femi]

What Jose Mourinho did during his time at Chelsea was to make them champions (not a nearly team!).

The winners mentality is the most difficult bit to attain and substain. He did that.

Like him or loathe him, he brought a different brand of entertainment to the premiership as well. His legacy continues to live at Chelsea.

[Davie P]

Message to Roman: Get Jose back and promise never to interfere in player purchases & sales & team selection - as per SAF, Wenger & Rafa at ManU, Arsenal & Liverpool etc.

[Humberto]

he won2 portuguese legues,2 cups,uefa cup and CL in 2 years at porto,came to chealsea 2 legues,and cups....
do you need more???
wake up

[hassaan bashir]

love or loath him, there is no other way with jose, this is what make him special, he makes football more interesting, more glamourous ... his rivalry with richard was one the best things that happened to the world of football in last few years ... he deserves to be a the top clubs.

[teddy messy]

YES! jose is 100% the special one.

[chelseafan]

i think all of the big clubs like barcelona, ac milan, inter, madrid and even arsenal (no chance but should) should try to get him. look at what he made of chelsea. he won them the title in his first year and their first in 50 years. hes got a great head on his shoulders and knows how to focus just on winning. ideal for struggling clubs with big names cos he knows how to bind strong players together. england, barca, che, milan and inter would benefit hugely.

[Sifiso Patel]

I think "the special" is too good for the italian league or any other league for that matter except for the english premiership. His accomplishments speak for themselves, he took a team that was not in running to win the champions league and suprise, suprise he won it. I think that Arsenal would best bennefit from the motivational talents that "the special one" has because the team is in a really dimotivated state of mind right now.

[Micky]

I agree that Mourinho would find Spain and Italy boring. Chelsea had not won a thing for 50 years (with the FA Cup obviously not everyone's 'dram to win' anymore) before he became manager, then they wins 2 EPL, 1 FA Cup and 2 league cups, so it seems like he is only challenged in the best league in the world. Maybe he could take City or someone of the likes to some trophies.

[Robert]

I can't believe I'm going to say this but I would love to see Roman and Jose bury the hatchet in the field in Moscow over a devastating Chelsea loss. I would love to see Jose come back to Chelsea where he was at his best, the team were at their best. Jose at Chelsea is what made me an EPL/Chelsea/European footbal fan. I knew about Man-U but didn't start watching EPL/European football until I saw Chelsea under Mourinho (on Fox Soccer Channel). I know I'm dreaming so don't hit me too hard with the comments. Roman wake up! Chelsea is a great brand with Jose at the helm. That's it..Go Chelsea, beat Man-U. Final score Chelsea 2 Man-U 0

[philip]

I think he is a good manager and his teams follow him and regard him a real leader. It works, but then look at Avram Grant! much the opposite yet has also shown great prospects and especially!.... taken them to a step nearer their ultimate goal the champions league, though not this time i fear.

[Anthony]

Any question marks over Mourinho's abiltiy as a manager are without merit. His record is exceptional.

The only thing he hasn't done is remain at a club long enough to have to build a completely new team and a squad that is entirely his own, as Ferguson has done numerous times at United and Wenger has done at Arsenal (from Arsenal's FA cup winning team of 2005, Kolo Toure is the only player who is still a first choice player in the current team). But he might never do this.

The continental approach, at the big clubs at least, tends to see managers take charge for no more than 5 or 6 years at the most before it is decided that a change is needed. Sven Goran Eriksson, for example, has managed 8 clubs (Benfica twice), his longest reign lasting for 5 years. When Bobby Robson embarked on his tour of European clubs in the 90's (with Mourinho the interpreter at his side), his longest stay was 3 years in charge of PSV.

Mourinho will deter some clubs because of the cautious style of his teams. That is probably why Barcelona are not interested. However, Inter Milan, birthplace of the Catenaccio; they are a match made in football heaven.

[justin]

I would love to see him take over at Palermo or Napoli for next season. Perfect fit for him

[encurtido]

Chelsea under Mourinho weren't boring when they played a fast 4-3-3 and had Robben & Duff on the wings. (remember the dismantling of a good Barca team?) It was only after the owner started making ridiculous purchases that the style of play got dull.

Mourinho's the real deal. He'll land somewhere interesting and, I hope, surprising.

[Josh Dickson]

I can't think of too much he's done wrong to warrant any questioning of his ability. The main issue here is whether Grant's "achievements" at Chelsea have softened Mourinho's. Grant getting to the champions league final, whilst a good achievement, I believe Mourinho could've done had he had a second leg at home. Just look at what he's achieved. Grant can't have dampened Mourinho's reputation too much because he's won nothing. Chelsea were level on points with us when he took over anyway so its not too big an achievement to make it to the last day. Mourinho created a club that was so unified in everything that its incorrect to say he causes trouble with his comments; it was Abramovich who caused the fuss. Mourinho is world class as his achievements have proved, and he's a great character on top of that. The only drawback is the DOUR PRAGMATIC football his sides produce.

[shahram]

He is a good coach with big mouth,