Jose Mourinho was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur on Monday. The club’s decision came just 17 months after he was hired with the goal of bringing the glory days back to North London.
Mourinho ended up being sacked from his past three jobs, which were all in England (Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham). Throughout his career, the 58-year old earned an astonishing $82 million just for compensation to finish his contracts. His recent lack of success anywhere outside his account is not scary for his suitors. According to the Scottish Daily Record, three clubs have already contacted Mourinho in the days following his dismissal.
Celtic Glasgow has been the first to get in touch with “The Special One,” the paper writes. Celtic have been managed by caretaker John Kennedy since Neil Lennon left in February. The Scottish powerhouse is on the hunt for a big name after losing the first title in 10 years to arch-rivals Glasgow Rangers. Former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was the board’s favorite until the possibility of talking to Mourinho appeared. City is 20 points behind Rangers with three games still to be played in the Scottish Premiership.
Tough competition for Celtic: Roma and Valencia also after Mourinho
AS Roma is currently seventh in the Italian Serie A, with big fears of missing out on European football for the first time since 1997 (when they finished 12th). The Champions League is almost mission impossible for a third consecutive season. Roma is 10 points behind Juventus with six games to go in the league. The giallorossi are also in the semifinals of the Europa League. If they win it, they are granted qualification to the Champions League group stages. Roma is playing Manchester United over a double leg for a place in the final. Manager Paulo Fonseca’s future at the Olimpico depends on the team’s results in the next two weeks.
Manchester United is at +100 for winning the Europa League, with Arsenal at +275 and Villarreal at +500. Roma has the smallest chance from all the semifinalists, according to the bookies, at +600.
Another giant that’s not doing so well at the moment, Valencia, is also interested in having Mourinho. Valencia is currently 14th in the league, far away from any European dreams. Relegation is closer. The club at Mestalla is seven points above the drop line with five games to go.
The bookies still regard Portugal as Mourinho’s most probable destination, at +550. Juventus is at +500, with Porto at +700. Celtic is at +1100.
“I am always in football,” Mourinho told media gathered outside his house after his sacking. Jose suggested he’s not going to take any sabbatical year and wants to be back in the game as soon as possible.
Tottenham playing League Cup final vs. Manchester City on Saturday
Just six days after showing Mourinho the door, Tottenham will play for the only trophy still available to them this season. Spurs will challenge English Premier League leaders Manchester City in the League Cup final. Mourinho left a job without winning any trophy for the first time in 19 years, being denied the possibility of facing long-time rival Pep Guardiola at Wembley on Saturday. City is firm favorites to lift the trophy, at -357. A Spurs win is at +333. Both teams to score is at +110.
A former player at Spurs, 29-year-old Ryan Mason was promoted into a caretaker role at Tottenham and will take charge for the League Cup final. On Wednesday, he made his debut on Spurs’ bench in the 2-1 win over Southampton in the Premier League.