Jose Mourinho eyes Newcastle job
Mourinho has managed in England four times previously with Chelsea (twice), Manchester United, and Tottenham
Jose Mourinho has reportedly identified Newcastle United as the ideal club for his Premier League comeback if Eddie Howe were to leave St James’ Park.
Mourinho, who has managed in England four times previously with Chelsea (twice), Manchester United, and Tottenham, is eager for a fifth stint in the Premier League.
His interest in Newcastle comes amid growing frustration with his current role at Turkish club Fenerbahçe.
According to The Guardian, the 61-year-old has reached out to intermediaries and asked to be kept informed about the latest developments at the club.
While Howe has just completed three years in charge, his long-term future is not guaranteed.
Newcastle’s form has been inconsistent, having gone five Premier League matches without a win prior to their 1-0 victory over Arsenal last Saturday.
They currently sit 11th in the table, a far cry from last season when Howe led them to the Champions League group stages.
Although Howe’s position is not under immediate threat, the departures of key figures – directors Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi – last summer have left him without some of his strongest allies at the club.
Mourinho’s connection to Newcastle extends beyond speculation. He met with the club’s chairman, Yasir al-Rumayyan, during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March, although the meeting was described as purely social.
However, The Guardian claims that their relationship has continued since.
The Portuguese coach has been vocal in his criticism of the Turkish league and even went to great lengths to charm British journalists during Fenerbahçe’s Europa League tie with Manchester United last month.
Mourinho’s frustrations boiled over last week following Fenerbahçe’s 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor.
In a scathing attack on the Turkish football authorities, he accused the referee of being a “child” and posted several videos on social media to further express his discontent.
Speaking after the match, he said: “In the end, I’m working in Turkey. It’s not my country.
“I care because it’s my job and I care because it’s my club.
“But I think you Turkish, you should care about it! You Turkish, you should speak, not me.
“You should denounce. You should say what is going on, year after year.
“You should do it, not me. Because I will be the one under attack, the one the system will criticise.
“The system will try to punish me, the system will try to close my mouth.
“Nobody abroad wants to watch the Turkish league. Who wants to watch this Turkish league abroad?
“They have the Premier League, they have the French league, they have the German league, they have the Portuguese league, they have the Dutch league.
“Why should they see this? … It’s too grey, it’s too dark, smells bad.
“But that’s my job, and I will give everything to my job, to my club.”
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