Jose Mourinho, presently without a managerial position following his recent departure from Roma, is reportedly expressing a keen interest in returning to football, with a particular focus on a second term as the manager of Manchester United.
The 61-year-old Portuguese coach, as per the Daily Mail, is said to harbor a strong desire to take the helm at Old Trafford once more. A close associate of Mourinho shared with the newspaper that there is a feeling of “unfinished business” for him at the club, given the circumstances of his initial tenure’s conclusion.
Reports indicate that Mourinho has set a personal goal to reclaim the managerial position at Manchester United, although the likelihood of this materializing in the near future seems minimal. Erik ten Hag is presently in the second season of his three-year contract as the manager, and supporters are optimistic about his future, particularly with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group overseeing sporting operations.
Mourinho originally assumed the managerial role at Manchester United in 2016, becoming the third permanent manager after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. In his first season, he successfully attracted high-profile signings like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, leading the team to victories in the Carabao Cup and Europa League. The 2017/18 season saw Manchester United secure a second-place finish in the Premier League, the club’s highest since the Ferguson era.
However, Mourinho’s tenure faced internal challenges, including conflicts over the failure to secure key transfer targets and other personnel issues. The summer transfer window in 2018 highlighted these challenges, with the club making limited signings, including Fred, Diogo Dalot, and backup goalkeeper Lee Grant.
Despite a notable 3-2 comeback win against Newcastle in October 2018, Mourinho’s time at United concluded just over two months later after a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, marking a run of one win in six league games.
As Mourinho contemplates a potential return to management, the prospect of leading Manchester United again remains a personal ambition. However, the existing managerial stability under Erik ten Hag and positive fan sentiment suggest that Mourinho’s desired reunion with Manchester United might encounter significant obstacles in the immediate future.
