Four Potential Destinations For Jose Mourinho After The Former Manchester United Manager Broadcasts His Return Date

It’s now been a touch over three months since Manchester United wielded the axe upon Jose Mourinho, but have no fear the Portuguese coach has revealed when he plans to return to management, and it's soon.

Upon his Old Trafford departure he decided took a step away from the limelight, as is custom for Mourinho. Before long his face began to frequently crop up on various media outlets, as it swiftly became evident that he was itching to get back into the dugout.

On his latest appearance on beIN Sports Mourinho has revealed that he’s swatted away a handful of offers since he entered unemployment.

“The position of a Coach is special and I enjoy the daily work. I want to return this summer, starting from June, for the beginning of the season,” told beIN SPORTS (videos can be watched on The Mail Online).

“I know exactly what I don’t want, which is why I have already turned down three or four offers. I also know what I do want. I don’t mean the name of the club, but the type of work, the style of club. I know what I want and I hope to get it.”

So, we now know that he has his sights set on a blockbuster summer return, but the next question is: just where he will crop up next?

Chelsea

One former club Mourinho won’t be returning to anytime soon is Real Madrid, who instead opted to lure back the Champions League hat-trick-winning boss Zinedine Zidane, less than 10 months after his surprise exit.

Originally, the Premier League appeared unlikely to be Mourinho’s next port of call, but given the increasingly precarious nature of Maurizio Sarri’s position at Chelsea, the rumour mill has been in overdrive regarding the possibility of a Mourinho third spell.

If this does come to fruition, then it’s fair to say fan reaction would be mixed. On one hand, many view Mourinho’s decision to take charge of rivals Man Utd as unforgivable, while he’s not exactly covered himself in glory in recent duels with the Blues. However, he is the club’s most successful manager, and providing he goes on the charm offensive then many would no doubt welcome another homecoming, providing Sarri is actually sacked. 

Bayern Munich

Niko Kovac could finish his debut season at Bayern Munich with the league and cup double added to his CV, but a number of fans still wouldn’t be convinced. He’s not exactly enjoyed the smoothest of seasons although Bayern now top the Bundesliga following a slow start. However, it was only last week that Jurgen Klopp strolled into town and booted his old rivals out of the Champions League.

Would Mourinho be the right fit at Bayern? He’s not exactly known for his love of attacking football, but if the German giants wanted to opt for a more pragmatic approach based on power and pace than we’re sure Mourinho would jump at the chance to test himself in a new country.

Roma

PSG and another ex-Mourinho club in Inter Milan have both been touted as potential destinations, but how about Roma?

The Serie A side sacked Eusebio Di Francesco earlier this month and handed Claudio Ranieri the job until the end of the season. Mourinho has of course already replaced Ranieri, at Chelsea in 2004, now 15 years later the same situation could occur this summer over in Italy.

Juventus are all set to win their eighth Scudetto in succession, while Roma are currently fighting it out for a top-four finish. I Giallorossi haven’t lifted the title since the days of Fabio Capello back in 2001, but the introduction of Mourinho could really shake things up, as was the case during his spell at Inter Milan.

Benfica

How about a return to his homeland, Portugal, for the first time since he led Porto to a stunning Primeira Liga and Champions League double back in 2004?

Mourinho’s first job in management actually came at Benfica, where he may feel he has unfinished business given that he oversaw only 11 games as the ownership changed hands and he resigned amid speculation that the new president wanted a different manager.

Admittedly a return this summer appears increasingly unlikely given that a) the club’s current boss Bruno Lage was only appointed in January, and b) he’s actually doing pretty well in his first senior job. But you never know.