THE BALL – José Mourinho: was it written in the stars? (Selection)

With the departure of Fernando Santos, according to data collected by A BOLA, José Mourinho is the strongest hypothesis for the succession in the post of national coach.

The 59-year-old coach has a contract with Roma until 2024, so the arrival of the A special in command of Portugal should be through an agreement between the Portuguese Football Federation and the Italian club. Rui Jorge, the current Under-21 manager, has discovered that A BOLA can ‘take’ the national team on a temporary basis, so José Mourinho can finish the season at Roma.

José Mourinho has never hidden his desire to conquer the national team. In 2014 he said: «Maybe he will lead the Portuguese national team with a generation that doesn’t allow us to do great things, but this really doesn’t concern me. I want to try and give what I have to my country’s national team.” Eight years later, that dream could come true with one of the best Portuguese generations ever, which would make the challenge all the more tempting for José Mourinho.

The truth is that the coach was very close to becoming national coach in 2012. Carlos Queiroz did not “survive” a series of bad results at the start of the 2012 European Championship qualifiers and Gilberto Madaíl, president at the time of the FPF, tried José Mourinho to lead the team in two games. The truth is that there was no white smoke and Paulo Bento would have taken the reins of the Portuguese national team.

José Mourinho has won just about everything there is to win, having recently become the first manager to win the current three European club competitions: Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Remember José Mourinho’s journey and results here:

Clubs he coached: Benfica (2000/2001), UD Leiria (2001/2002), FC Porto (2001-2004), Chelsea (2004-2008 and 2013-2016), Inter Milan (2008-2010), Real Madrid (2010-2013), Manchester United (2016-2019), Tottenham (2019-2021) and Roma (2021-present)

Trophies won:

Two Champions Leagues: FC Porto (2003/2004) and Inter (2009/2010)

A Europa League – Manchester United (2016/2017)

One UEFA Cup – FC Porto (2002/2003)

One Conference League – Rome (2021/2022)

2 Italian championships – Inter (2008/2009 and 2009/2010)

One FA Cup – Chelsea (2006/2007)

A King’s Cup – Real Madrid (2010/2011)

One Italian Cup – Inter (2009/2010)

Four English League Cups: Chelsea (2004/05, 2006/07 and 2014/15) and Manchester United (2016/17)

One Spanish Super Cup – Real Madrid (2012/2013)

An Italian Super Cup – Inter (2008/2009)

Two Portuguese championships: FC Porto (2002/2003 and 2003/2004)

Portuguese Cup A – FC Porto (2002/2003)

One Portuguese Super Cup – FC Porto (2002/2003)

Two English Super Cups: Chelsea (2005/2006) and Manchester United (2016/2017)