Jose Mourinho has been tipped for a dramatic return to the Premier League within the next couple of years. The Portuguese tactician, who has previously managed Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham, is currently in charge of Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Mourinho, now 62, enjoyed massive success at Chelsea, winning three Premier League titles, three League Cups, and the FA Cup across two spells at Stamford Bridge. He also lifted the Europa League and League Cup at Manchester United and famously claimed that finishing second with the Red Devils was one of his greatest achievements due to the club’s struggles before and after his tenure.
His last stint in England was with Tottenham, but after a disappointing spell, he was sacked in April 2021. Since then, Mourinho has managed Italian side Roma and is currently competing in Turkey with Fenerbahce. However, former England defender Glen Johnson believes Mourinho’s Premier League journey isn’t over just yet.
“I would love to see Jose Mourinho back in the Premier League because he’s one of the biggest characters in football,” Johnson told Ladbrokes. “I don’t know where he’ll go. Chelsea is out of the question, he’s done Tottenham and Manchester United, and Arsenal or Manchester City seem unlikely right now. But maybe City in a couple of years… you never know.”
Johnson emphasized that Mourinho’s return would depend on his desire to compete at the highest level. “We all know Jose. He won’t go somewhere unless he can win, so it would have to be one of the top two or three teams,” he added.
Mourinho’s former rival, Pep Guardiola, has been at the helm of Manchester City since 2016. Although there were rumors of Guardiola stepping down at the end of the season, City extended his contract until 2026. However, City’s recent struggles and their fight to secure Champions League qualification have raised questions about the decision.
Reflecting on his time under Mourinho at Chelsea, Johnson admitted he knew little about the manager when he arrived in 2004. “All I knew was that Porto had just won the Champions League. We were also confused about why Claudio Ranieri was sacked after finishing second in the league,” he recalled.
Despite initial doubts, Mourinho led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season, proving the club’s decision right. Meanwhile, his current side, Fenerbahce, sits second in the Turkish Super Lig, seven points behind Galatasaray with a game in hand, but they were recently knocked out of the Europa League by Rangers.