I hope Mourinho doesn't return to the PL - he's more Curbishley than Ferguson

16 January 2024 , 12:40

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Jose Mourinho deserves to be remembered as one of the all time great managers.

But his time as a boss at the highest level feels like a thing of the past and that is why it is hard to imagine him returning to the Premier League. When a few of us were chatting the other day, someone mentioned the idea of Mourinho taking over at Newcastle and there was a look of disbelief on most faces in the room. He is no longer in the conversation. If the Saudi owners did that, they'd be going backwards.

The fact is The Special One no longer has the magic touch and what you see now is a manager who is a shadow of his former self. The inspirational coach who was incredible at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan is long gone.

Mourinho, 60, received a second successive red card after defeat to city rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia last week and then compared himself to Harry Potter, suggesting he was his own worst enemy by “raising expectations.” His final game in charge was a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan on Sunday.

The Portuguese has lost his magic wand despite leading Roma to the Europa Conference League title in 2022 and the Europa League final in 2023 where they lost to Sevilla on penalties and that night ended in shame and controversy.

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You might remember Mourinho then got a four game UEFA ban after confronting referee Anthony Taylor in the car park after that defeat and that has to form part of the reason why he should not come back. That was an utterly shameful episode and for Mourinho to behave like that, fire up a baying mob at the airport to greet Taylor at the airport should never be forgotten. He could have been sacked over that rather than disappointing results.

Yes, he is great value and provides sensational headlines. But we don’t want a bully who treats referees like that. Enough is enough.

I hope Mourinho doesn't return to the PL - he's more Curbishley than Ferguson

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Roma (Getty Images)

Do you think Roma have made the right decision? Let us know in the comments below!

Roma are five points off the Champions League places which is hardly a disaster but surely the club’s owners can see the way the wind is blowing.

Mourinho comes in, does a good job, gets results and then his motivational powers wane, he gets upset and has a go at refs and he exits stage left. It has become a familiar script.

No-one can doubt he was one of the greats. I loved his knee slide at Old Trafford on the way to leading Porto to an impossible Champions League success. He was incredible at Chelsea - first time rather than the second which ended badly - and showed his tactical brilliance when leading Inter to European glory.

Looking back, his time at Manchester United was better than we realised at the time. But it ended in typical toxic fashion.

He went in at Tottenham which was such a bad idea and this comes from someone who was determined to give him another chance. For Spurs to sack him just days before a cup final shows how bad it had got. What a farce. Now he feels more Alan Curbishley than Sir Alex Ferguson. A solid manager but he’s never going to reach the top again.

I hope he does not come back to the Premier League. Maybe the Saudi Pro League is perfect for him. Lots of money, a home for washed up stars and second rate football in front of pathetic attendances.

Sorry but that’s where it’s at for Jose. Thanks for the memories. But the Special One has had his time.