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Jose Mourinho, often considered one of the greatest managers ever in football, has hinted at his desire to take up the mantle of coaching a national side in future before his retirement.
In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the 61-year-old Portuguese expressed his desire which is the only thing he has not done yet in his illustrious career; managing a national team.
Mourinho: "Quero jogar um Europeu ou um Mundial e unir um país em torno de uma equipa, como já fiz muitas vezes com os clubes" 🚨
— Cabine Desportiva (@CabineSport) December 31, 2024
"Quero fazê-lo pelo futebol e pelo que este desporto representa. Vai ser incrível!" 👀
Via: @CorSport pic.twitter.com/7AaFHpSnPT
Having managed elite European clubs such as Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, and AS Roma; Mourinho is currently in charge as the head coach of the Turkish side Fenerbahce since June 2024.
"I want to do this for football"
In an exclusive interview with Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho said that he wants to manage a national side as he wants to "do this for football". He stated:
Yes. I want to play a European Championship or a World Cup, to unite a country around its national team in the same way I have managed so many times with clubs and fans. I want to do it for football, for what this sport represents. It will be incredible.
Before joining Fenerbahce, Mourinho managed AS Roma, where he won the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League and lost on penalties against Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League final in the following season. He was sacked in January 2024.
However, Mourinho expressed that he takes more interest in Inter Milan where he won two Scudettos and one Champions League from 2008 to 2010.
I haven't seen Roma play anymore. Inter, yes!
Mourinho also addressed that he had to refuse Florentino Perez as he decided to re-join Chelsea in 2013. He said the following when questioned if he has any regrets in his career:
If you're referring to professional choices, the no to Florentino. He told me 'Mou, don't leave now, you've done the hard part and the good part is yet to come... I knew it would be like this, but I wanted to return to Chelsea after three years in Spain of great struggles...
Mourinho has won almost every possible trophy during his 23-year-long managerial career. Now, he has set his eyes on an international accolade with a national side.
Previously, in an interview with beIN Sports in 2019, Mourinho showed his interest in coaching a national team. In that interview, he said:
I want to compete in new competitions, I think about the World Cup and the European Championships. For a long time, I have the desire to try such an adventure, because right now, I see myself more with a national team than a new club
Mourinho admits he would love to coach an international side... but not just yet.#beINMourinho #beINAFC #AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/52jxgYQnv3
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) January 17, 2019
Earlier in 2024, Mourinho also told renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano that he may coach a national side in future. He affirmed:
To coach a national team is an objective for me.
Maybe right before World Cup, Euros or the Copa America, African Cup… I can, yes.
But waiting two years for that, I don’t know!
Maybe one day it will happen.