The Jose Mourinho show made its comeback in front of an English audience this week as the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss faced off against one of his old teams.
Fenerbahce manager Mourinho oversaw a 1-1 draw with United in Istanbul on Thursday night.
The Turkish side played well and were deserving of their Europa League point after Youssef En-Nesyri cancelled out Christian Eriksen‘s opener.
But, somewhat unsurprisingly, Thursday’s game will be best remembered for the behaviour of Mourinho, rather than the organisation and application of his team.
The ‘Special One’ – as he is known among English fans – was sent to the stands in the second half after being shown a red card for his reaction to Fenerbahce unsuccessfully appealing for a penalty kick.
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho pictured on the touchline during Thursday evening’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League
Mourinho was sent off by referee Clement Turpin (right) after complaining about a decision
Speaking in a post-game press conference, Mourinho reacted to his dismissal by joking that he might like his next job to be with an English club that does not play in a UEFA competition – so that he can swerve UEFA officials.
Asked if his red card had been unexpected, Mourinho quipped: ‘I think the best thing I have to do is, when I leave Fenerbahce, I go to a club that does not play UEFA competitions.
‘If any club in England from the bottom of the table needs a coach in two years, I am ready to go.’
Mourinho’s comments were clearly tongue in cheek, but that will not stop the rumour mill from turning with increased speed.
He has already been cited as a future candidate to take over at West Ham, where Julen Lopetegui has made an inauspicious start to the season.
Indeed, West Ham – despite winning the Europa Conference League as recently as last year – are not currently in Europe.
After the game, Mourinho joked that, once he leaves Fenerbahce, he might want to manage an English club placed around the ‘bottom of the table’ so that he could avoid UEFA competitions
Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United side are currently 15th in England’s Premier League table
Mourinho was probably joking when he hinted at wanting to take a break from European football.
However, the reality is that the 61-year-old is seemingly now so far past his peak that he is unlikely to be wanted by many English clubs with strong ambitions of competing for continental honours anyway.
A lot has changed since Mourinho took English football by storm to deliver Chelsea their first two Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006.
His style of football has arguably become even more rigid, while fans and owners – especially at the bigger clubs – have increasingly began to demand the opposite.
Mourinho has won 26 trophies during his managerial career, including two Champions League crowns – with Porto in 2004 and with Inter Milan in 2010.
But he has not won a league title since 2015, while he has only lifted one piece of silverware since 2017.
Mourinho won the Premier League title three times with Chelsea – in 2005, 2006 and 2015
The last trophy Mourinho won was the UEFA Europa Conference League with Roma in 2022
In 2019, a significant rule change relating to goal kicks was made that encouraged teams to play out from the back.
Increasingly since then, top teams – and many middling sides who wish to be top teams – have made it their purpose to play slick, progressive passing football, often while deploying a high press when without the ball.
But Mourinho has been less keen to change.
His last stint in England was a case in point. Despite being in charge of a Tottenham squad that included star attackers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Mourinho’s side often sat deep and looked to play on the counter.
This brand of football proved very unpopular with the Spurs supporters, as well as many of the players.
Mourinho’s training sessions were said to be ‘boring’, according to some players, while others claimed his tactics were too focused on stopping the opposition, resulting in a lack of confidence and fluidity when it came to attacking.
Another concern with Mourinho is that he is less careful than most other managers when it comes to the internal politics at a football club.
He is not afraid to speak out in a way that may upset players, owners and even supporters.
Mourinho’s last job in England saw him manage Tottenham before being sacked in April 2021
Before Thursday’s game, Mourinho embraced current Man United manager Erik ten Hag (left)
His tactics may be a little tired but everything else about Mourinho is box office… for a neutral.
A fifth chapter of Mourinho in England would undoubtably spice up the Premier League for spectators and journalists alike.
But most fans would likely much prefer to observe it from a safe distance, rather than having Mourinho at the wheel on their club’s journey.
If he is to return to England, he almost certainly will have to park his famous bus in less illustrious surroundings than before.