Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Fenerbahce after just over a year in Turkey and many are wondering if the ‘Special One’ could return to Serie A?
Why Did Fenerbahce Sack Jose Mourinho?
The former Inter Milan boss was relieved of his duties in Turkey after Fenerbahce were beaten by Benfica in a Champions League qualifer, with the Portuguese side winning 1-0 across both legs.
Mourinho’s dismissal comes after an unbeaten start in the Super Lig so far, being held to a 0-0 stalemate by Goztepe on the opening day, before beating Kocaelispor 3-1.
During his time in Turkey, which began in July 2024, Mourinho took charge of 62 matches across all competitions, winning 47, losing 11 and drawing 14 – boasting a win rate of 59.7%.
He was unable to add to his impressive trophy cabinet with Fenerbahce, finishing second in the league and 11 points behind fierce rivals, Galatasaray.
Failing to qualify for Europe was the final nail in the coffin for Mourinho and the 62-year-old will have the decision to either find a new club or retired from the sport.
The Portuguese icon has managed some of the biggest clubs across the world, including Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester United, with the latter possibly looking for a new manager following their recent results.
Ruben Amorim’s side suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit against League Two side, Grimsby, and Andre Onana has been linked with a return to Inter after his performance.
Although some fans have called for Mourinho to return to Old Trafford, the Red Devils are reportedly willing to back their current manager – meaning the ‘Special One’ will need to look elsewhere.
So far, Mourinho has managed in three of Europe’s top five leagues, never taking the reins of a side in Germany or France and this could play a part in his decision.
However, his most successful spells came in Italy, which may push the Portuguese coach into a move back to Serie A and aim to replicate his magic in previous years.
Will Jose Mourinho Go Back To Serie A?
Jose Mourinho began his first managerial role in Serie A way back in July 2008, taking the reins at Inter Milan and the iconic coach became an instant hit at the San Siro.
During his first season in charge, Mourinho won the Serie A title and Supercoppa Italiana, but was eliminated from the Champions League Ro16 by Manchester United.
The following year is where Mourinho really cemented his name in Italian soccer history, as Inter went on to win the illustrious treble – picking up the Serie A title, Coppa Italia and Champions League.
Across his two seasons in Milan, the Portuguese manager oversaw 108 matches (68W, 15L & 25D) and earned himself a move to Real Madrid in July 2010.
Mourinho would then return to Italy after a decade-long absence, becoming the new AS Roma manager in July 2021 and guided the Giallorossi to their first piece of European silverware by winning the UEFA Conference League in May 2022.
Roma would eventually relieve Mourinho of his duties in January 2024 after a poor run of league form and the Rome-based side are currently under the guise of Gian Piero Gasperini.
The Giallorossi take on Pisa in their next Serie A encounter and you can find our full Pisa vs Roma match preview here, as Gasperini looks for his first league win of the season.
Gasperini’s recent arrival means that a return to Roma would be unlikely for Mourinho, but this is also the case for multiple sides across Italy’s top-flight.
Juventus, Inter, AC Milan and Atalanta all brought in some fresh faces to take the reins on a permanent basis, with Napoli being the only side from last season’s top four to keep their leading man.
One option that has been in the headlines is a move to Lazio, with Maurizio Sarri reportedly unhappy with the clubs’ recent transfer embargo and the Laziali suffered a 2-0 defeat to Como on the opening day.
Mourinho will be aware of the Roma and Lazio rivalry, however, the latter appear to be the only club with enough of a profile that has not recently appointed a new head coach.
The post Will Jose Mourinho Return To Serie A? Former Inter Boss Searches For New Job After Fenerbahce Exit appeared first on FootItalia.com.
