Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas have confirmed they are in talks to sign former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. However, the Istanbul-based club reportedly faces stiff competition from local and bitter rivals Fenerbahce.
Mourinho has been unemployed since being sacked by AS Roma in January and is apparently eyeing a return to management. As Metro claims, he has no plans to retire and is being considered by both Besiktas and Fenerbahce.
According to the reports, both sides have already made contact with the former Chelsea manager. However, Besiktas vice-president Huseyin Yucel has even announced that they have already reached an agreement with “the special one”.
Yucel also insisted that former Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma will join Mourinho’s coaching staff. The Besiktas vice president said, as quoted by Metro:
“We contacted Jose Mourinho a month ago and he welcomed our offer. We have already sorted out the economic details and will travel to Italy next week so we can meet in person. If we reach an agreement with Mourinho, we will recommend that he include Ricardo Quaresma in the staff.”
Back in March, Jose Mourinho admitted that he was not interested in taking a break from coaching and was waiting for a new opportunity. The former Real Madrid and Chelsea coach said:
“I’m not at rest, I want to work. I want to work, but I just don’t want to make the wrong decision. I have to wait for the right decision that motivates me. But if I could work tomorrow, I would work tomorrow.
Mourinho is widely regarded as one of the best managers of the modern era, but his career went downhill over the last decade. He has managed top clubs in Portugal, Spain, England and Italy and enjoyed great success everywhere.
Should the former Chelsea coach move to the Super Lig, it would be the first time he will work as a coach in Turkey. However, he has also emerged as a target for Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah after securing promotion to the Saudi Pro League.
Chelsea contact former Manchester United manager as Mauricio Pochettino’s future uncertain: reports
Chelsea have reportedly made contact with former Manchester United assistant coach Kieran McKenna’s representative to consider Mauricio Pochettino’s future. McKenna made a name for himself by helping Ipswich Town to back-to-back promotions.
The Blues are reportedly extremely impressed with the Northern Irishman, under whose guidance Ipswich will play in the Premier League next season. Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim, who was previously linked with Liverpool, has also emerged as a possible option.
Pochettino is said to be under a lot of pressure despite Chelsea’s strong finish to the season. The Blues finished the season in sixth place despite struggling for most of the season. The Argentine is under contract at Stamford Bridge until summer 2025.
