Mourinho back in the Champions League? Major clubs want ex-Man Utd and Chelsea boss

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 22 May 2024 08:28 BST
• 3 min read

Jose Mourinho is in line to make his return to the Champions League next season, with the former Manchester United and Chelsea manager’s services in demand from at least one club heading into the competition.

Mourinho is out of work after being sacked by Roma in January but is being eyed by two Turkish superpowers.

Fenerbahce claimed a dramatic 1-0 win over Galatasaray on Sunday to keep the Super Lig title alive until the last day of the season, but it could be the Portuguese that leads them into the next campaign.

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Aziz Yildirim, who is a candidate for the presidency at the club, has promised to bring Mourinho to Turkey should he win the position.

“I met Jose Mourinho face to face last week. I told him: 'Fenerbahce needs you and you need Fenerbahce.' He listened to me sincerely. My friends are talking to his agents. If we win, I will bring Jose Mourinho,” he told the media.

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Besiktas fighting for Mourinho

Mourinho is also wanted by Besiktas, who recently sacked his compatriot Fernando Santos and count Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as one of their star players, and has shown interest in the role, vice president Huseyin Yucel has confirmed.

“We contacted Jose Mourinho a month ago and he welcomed our offer. We already resolved the economic details and will go to Italy next week so we can meet face to face,” he said.

“If we reach an agreement with Mourinho, then we will recommend he include Ricardo Quaresma in the staff.”

Of the two available jobs, Fenerbahce appears the more attractive for Mourinho. They are set to finish the season 40 points ahead of Besiktas in the Super Lig standings and will have Champions League football, while their Istanbul rivals are set to miss out on continental competition entirely.