Jose Mourinho is moving to Istanbul to take over Fenerbahce this summer in a first job since being sacked by Roma, but the 61-year-old appears to be keeping his options openJose Mourinho is set to become the Fenerbahce manager, but he has reportedly insisted on a release clause that will allow him to leave for another job.
According to Calciomercato via NTV Sport, Mourinho has insisted that his contract includes a clause which will allow him to be released if he receives an offer from the Portuguese national team.
That is a source of some regret, with the Portugal national team previously approaching him while he was still employed by Roma.
Image: Jose Breton/Getty Images) Jose Breton/Getty Images)"We're going into the Euros with a coach who has done an excellent job, with an excellent generation of players," he said.
"Yes, I want to coach a national team, I want to have the experience of a World Cup and European Championship, the emotion of the short competition,” he said.
Jose Mourinho is moving to Istanbul to take over Fenerbahce this summer in a first job since being sacked by Roma, but the 61-year-old appears to be keeping his options open
Jose Mourinho is set to become the Fenerbahce manager, but he has reportedly insisted on a release clause that will allow him to leave for another job.
Mourinho has penned a two-year contract with the option of a third with Fenerbahce which will see him return to management this summer following his sacking by Roma in January. Superagent Jorge Mendes has been busy negotiating Mourinho’s move to Istanbul, which comes after he already held talks with Fener’s rivals Besiktas.
Fenerbahce claimed 99 points yet still missed out on the Turkish Super Lig title by three points to Galatasaray. Mourinho will attempt to return the club to the summit of Turkish football for the first time since 2013/14, yet he is also keeping the door open for another job.
According to Calciomercato via NTV Sport, Mourinho has insisted that his contract includes a clause which will allow him to be released if he receives an offer from the Portuguese national team. The 61-year-old has won trophies in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain but has never tried international management.
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That is a source of some regret, with the Portugal national team previously approaching him while he was still employed by Roma. Mourinho turned them down after Fernando Santos was dismissed, only to be sacked by Roma in January.
"The fact that the president of the FPF said that I was not his first choice, but his only choice, makes me proud," he said in January after his dismissal. "But I decided not to go. I'm here and that's what matters."
Portugal opted to hire Roberto Martinez, but clearly Mourinho thinks he could be next in line in the role. Speaking publicly in January, he backed former Everton and Belgium coach Martinez for success this summer.
Image: Jose Breton/Getty Images) Jose Breton/Getty Images)
"We're going into the Euros with a coach who has done an excellent job, with an excellent generation of players," he said. “I want everything to go well, and for this group of players, going well means winning. By winning, [Martinez] will continue, and this group of players will continue with him and go to the next World Cup.”
But Mourinho did also offer a prediction that he will take on the role one day, stating: "If it has to happen someday, it will.” It seems that the job is still on his mind, even as he embarks on a new chapter with Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
Back in 2020, when he was Tottenham boss, Mourinho spoke openly about the prospect of international management. "Yes, I want to coach a national team, I want to have the experience of a World Cup and European Championship, the emotion of the short competition,” he said. “Is Portugal the one I want to do? On one side yes as it is my heart. But it is very difficult to do it with the country you were born in."
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