Mourinho to Newcastle 'gaining momentum'

Suraj Radia

• 23 Jan 2024 09:32 GMT
• 3 min read

Jose Mourinho could be offered a quick return back to football and the Premier League after being sacked by Roma, with reports in France claiming that Newcastle have stepped up their pursuit of the iconic Portuguese manager.

Mourinho parted ways with Roma earlier this month with the club sitting ninth in Serie A, much to the dismay of some fans, who vocalised their support for their former manager after he won them a European trophy during his two-and-a-half years in charge.

The 60-year-old has been courted by Saudi Arabian sides, with new links to Pro League side Al-Shabab this week, however Mourinho is said to have turned down an approach despite previously stating that he sees working in the country as an inevitability.

Mourinho is believed to be holding out for another role in Europe and Le10Sport report that a move to Newcastle has ‘gained momentum’ in the past few days, with the Premier League side taking the steps to make the change happen.

The report claims that Howe’s future could be ‘quickly resolved’ if the route to Mourinho ‘became concrete’, with Newcastle currently sitting 10th in the Premier League – a position which ‘does not meet the expectations of the club’s Saudi owners.’

Jose Mourinho and his ‘emotional connection’ to Newcastle

Mourinho has been linked with Newcastle throughout his career, having admitted an affinity towards the club due to his admiration for Sir Bobby Robson, his former mentor who supported and previously managed the Tyneside club.

Speaking in 2021, Mourinho said: “For many, many years, I worked with one of the most important figures in the history of Newcastle, Sir Bobby Robson, and so because of that I have always had a bit of an emotional connection with that city and that fanbase.

“I like to go there and like the feeling of going to Mr Robson’s home. I like St James Park, I think it’s really nice and the atmosphere. The fans are good and enthusiastic. I like the Geordies.”

Mourinho had also previously described himself as ‘a little Magpie’ due to Robson’s influence on him, saying: “It's a club I feel connection with because of Mr Robson, it's a simple as that. “He had a huge passion for Newcastle and his area, Durham. He had it in his heart. So, through him I have become a little magpie!”

Robson had previously attempted to make Mourinho his assistant manager when he became Newcastle manager in 1999, having told him that he would eventually step down and hand the Portuguese the reigns, although the move never materialised.

“At the time I was already eyeing a different direction,” Mourinho said in 2020. “Mr Robson always knew that I wanted to give everything that I could to him, but at the same time he also knew I had my eyes in a different direction – but yes, there was a chance.”