In the midst of Chelsea's current crisis, a section of fans at Stamford Bridge found themselves chanting José Mourinho's name during their recent defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. This may seem like a nostalgic desire, reminiscent of the successful periods Mourinho had as Chelsea manager in 2004-2007 and 2013-2015, but the reality is that should Mauricio Pochettino pay the price for the team's disastrous season, Mourinho is available.
It's no secret that Mourinho remains the most successful manager in Chelsea's history. While he didn't bring home the elusive Champions League trophy during his time at the club, unlike Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel, he did win an impressive seven major trophies, including three Premier League titles, across his two stints as manager. The key players from his first great team at Chelsea, such as Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba, became the foundation of the successes achieved under subsequent managers. However, it's important to recognize that nostalgia tends to cloud judgment, allowing us to only remember the good times – the trophies, the formidable aura of Chelsea under Mourinho, and his famous declaration of being 'a special one.'
Yet, when reflecting on Mourinho's tenure, it's impossible to overlook the acrimonious circumstances surrounding his departures after both of his previous managerial stints at Chelsea, as his relationships with the squad became irreparably damaged due to his numerous critical comments. This pattern has repeated itself throughout Mourinho's career, evident in his time managing various clubs. Aside from his successful spell at Inter Milan, where he guided the Italian side to an impressive treble before leaving in 2010, the story of the past two decades as a manager has been remarkably similar for Mourinho – initial success followed by dressing room disharmony, negative football, clashes with higher-ups regarding transfers, and, ultimately, failure.
Thus, for the Chelsea fans who yearn for Mourinho's return for a third time as manager, caution should be exercised when wishing for such a scenario. Chelsea finds themselves in a dire situation at the moment. Pochettino, who took over last summer, has managed to guide the team to the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on February 25th, giving them a chance to salvage European qualification. However, he is still struggling to find the right combination of players, as exemplified by Chelsea's unimpressive record of more losses (10) than wins (9) in the league. Despite these struggles, Pochettino has demonstrated an ability to mold young players with potential, a feat he accomplished during his time with Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho, on the other hand, has never shown a proclivity for building a young team. His preferred approach has always involved working with experienced players who are at the peak of their abilities. Even when Mourinho has integrated young players into his teams, they have always been surrounded by seasoned veterans on whom he relies heavily. Thus, even if Chelsea's owners momentarily entertain the idea of turning to Mourinho as a solution for their current troubles, they would quickly realize that his skill set is ill-suited for the challenges the current manager must tackle.
It's important to acknowledge that Mourinho is a relic of the past. It has been almost 20 years since he burst onto the scene, announcing himself to the world as 'The Special One' with his exuberant celebration of Costinha's late goal that eliminated Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United from the Champions League. That victory propelled Mourinho and Porto to the ultimate triumph in that season's competition and subsequently earned him a move to Chelsea. At that time, Mourinho was on top of the world, oozing charisma and success, which led many to believe that he would dominate football for a decade.
However, the game has since evolved, and a new image of the ideal coach emerged with Pep Guardiola. Mourinho was left behind, no longer able to produce the same box-office football as he once did, but still maintaining his allure through provocative statements. In his last four managerial positions – Chelsea (second spell), Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Roma – Mourinho's tenure came to an end with his dismissal, while the win rate of his teams declined with each job: 59% at Chelsea, 58% at United, 51% at Spurs, and currently 49% with Roma. Hence, it is unlikely that he will return to Chelsea anytime soon, as Pochettino has enough on his plate to worry about without the fear of Mourinho breathing down his neck.
The only one losing sleep over his next job prospects is Mourinho himself because his options are becoming increasingly limited. Top clubs now seek coaches who can build exciting and successful teams while maintaining a harmonious working relationship within a structured framework that includes a director of football or sporting director. Mourinho is not among the coaches being considered for such openings. The names catching attention are Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton & Hove Albion, Thomas Frank at Brentford, Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP, and Míchel at Girona. Mourinho's rejected offer to manage Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League last month suggests he is waiting for a more appealing challenge, but it remains difficult to envision what exactly that might entail. Perhaps international football or a stint in Major League Soccer could be potential options, as Mourinho has often expressed his fondness for Los Angeles during various preseason tours with Chelsea, United, and Spurs.
However, it is important to recognize that Mourinho's era leading top clubs to major honors is a thing of the past. That ship sailed a long time ago, and at the age of 61, Mourinho's chances of landing a top managerial role with ambitions of conquering the highest honours have significantly diminished.
