Jose Mourinho stands on the verge of winning a second successive European final - and being out of a job.
The Special One has been in charge of Roma since June 2021 and after claiming the first ever Europa Conference League title last season, Mourinho will lead his side out at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Wednesday, as the Giallorossi bid to go one better. Roma face competition specialists Sevilla in the Europa League final, a match which will define both sides' so far underwhelming seasons.
While Sevilla have languished near the Spanish relegation zone for much of the campaign, Mourinho has endured a typically tempestuous term in the Italian capital, one which has resulted in his future looking bleak.
Following a promising first year in the Stadio Olimpico hot seat, culminating in the club's first trophy since 2008, Mourinho was tipped to continue Roma's resurgence and guide them back into the top four of Serie A. Although the 60-year-old welcomed big names such as Paulo Dybala, Georginio Wijnaldum and Nemanja Matic, the Giallorossi were still the fourth-lowest spenders in the Italian top flight when it came to transfer fees.
The lack of serious investment, Mourinho claims, is what has cost Roma in their pursuit of a top-four finish. "Qualifying for the Champions League when spending €7million (£6m) on the transfer market is more than history, more than a miracle," the Portuguese recently claimed. "It's like Jesus Christ coming to Rome and having a walk around the Vatican."
Mourinho's comments were at odds with managing director Tiago Pinto, who'd made it clear to the public that the Italian giants were indeed targeting at least fourth place. "I always try to be honest, I don't like to sell hot air," Mourinho added. "I never said Roma were a candidate for the Champions League places."
A 2-1 defeat away to Fiorentina on Saturday confirmed Roma's failure, having won just one of their last nine games in all competitions. Fortunately, it was the one that mattered as far as potentially winning another trophy goes.
After beating Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, Mourinho took his famous bus and parked it in western Germany for the second leg. It held firm and the Giallorossi's dogged players trudged through to the final and gave their manager, who burst into tears shortly after the final whistle, at least one more game at the helm.
Those same players are now dreaming of lifting a second European trophy in 12 months, while also preparing to say goodbye to Mourinho. As relayed by Get Italian football News, reports claim that he'll depart the Stadio Olimpico for good after Roma's final match of the season at home to Spezia on Sunday.
There is a small belief inside the camp that the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss could stay on should the Giallorossi beat Sevilla on Wednesday, but all signs point towards an exit - and could lead him to Paris. Despite Christophe Galtier delivering the Ligue 1 title over the weekend, Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly considering yet another change of manager and were said to have made contact with Mourinho earlier this month.
With Lionel Messi, Neymar and other stars set to part ways with the French champions this summer, PSG are ready to reshape their side into one capable of winning the Champions League, a feat which Mourinho has managed twice in his career. His track record in Europe is appealing to plenty of clubs, although he gave a typically hilarious response when asked about the speculation.
"If PSG called, they didn't find me," Mourinho told Sky Italia with a wry smile. "I've never spoken to them." Ahead of Wednesday's final, he was quizzed once again on his hotly-debated future.
Mourinho memorably left Inter Milan just days after winning the Champions League as part of an unprecedented treble triumph in 2010, having agreed to join Real Madrid after a historic two-year stint at San Siro. This time, though, he's not been speaking to potential suitors and remains under contract with Roma until 2024.
"I have spoken to my captains before we came here, and they asked me the same question," Mourinho revealed, having been asked whether he'd be staying beyond this week. "I won't tell you, because that is between me and them. But there is a big difference between now and when I was at Inter, because even though I hadn’t signed a contract with Real Madrid, everything was done.
"At this moment in time I have had no contract with any other club, so very different. And right now it is about us, us, us and this final - and that is the only thing we concentrate on."
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Although his stock is higher than after being sacked by Tottenham in April 2021, Mourinho won't have too many clubs falling at his feet in the hope that he'll become their new boss. Spurs certainly aren't looking for a reunion, especially after he slammed chairman Daniel Levy and pointed out that it's the only club where he hasn't won a trophy.
Tottenham chief Levy didn't allow Mourinho to take charge of the League Cup final against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City two years ago, sacking him six days beforehand. That's one bridge which has been burned and the same goes for another of his former teams, Chelsea.
A few weeks ago, the Blues were tipped to appoint him for the third time in 19 years, but Todd Boehly has opted for Mauricio Pochettino to lead the rebuild which is required at Stamford Bridge. Could a return to Real Madrid even be on the cards? Mourinho referred to his three-year tenure as a "very nice experience," although current boss Carlo Ancelotti looks to be staying put.
The Portugal job at international level was available for a brief period after the World Cup but his native football association ultimately went for recently-sacked Belgium manager Roberto Martinez. Brazil still don't have a permanent boss, but it seems that both Guardiola or Ancelotti are the Selecao's preference over Mourinho.
A portion of England fans would be open to him succeeding Gareth Southgate should the Three Lions fail to win Euro 2024, but Mourinho's appointment go against the grain of the FA's current managerial model. For now, the focus is on winning his fifth European club title, having already become the first man to lift all three of UEFA's major trophies in May last year.
"We know our qualities, we know our problems," Mourinho admitted to BT Sport ahead of the trip to Hungary. "We'll try to hide our problems, we'll try to play with our strengths. We are really a very, very strong group at a human level and the guys, they deserve so much to play this final."
The footage of a teary-eyed Mourinho saying farewell to Inter players and staff at the Bernabeu 13 years ago could be repeated in Budapest, just without his next destination being made apparent. Whatever Mourinho's next step is, we already know to get the popcorn ready.
