Jose Mourinho: Manchester United and 4 other clubs ex-Chelsea manager could end up at after leaving Fenerbahce

Jose Mourinho’s latest chapter in management has come to a sudden halt after his dismissal at Fenerbahce, where a botched Champions League campaign brought his time in Turkey to an unceremonious end.

For a man who has managed Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, it is unlikely that he will stay unemployed for long.

The football world is already buzzing about where the “Special One” could turn up next. From the Premier League to Saudi Arabia, the list of suitors is intriguing, and Mourinho’s name still commands headlines everywhere.

At Old Trafford, the knives are out for Ruben Amorim after a dreadful start to the season and an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town. Manchester United are now drifting from crisis to crisis, and the board is running out of patience.

Enter Mourinho. He knows the club, the stadium, the pressure, and crucially, how to win trophies in Manchester. In fact, his 2017 Europa League triumph remains the last major piece of European silverware in United’s cabinet.

The big question is whether fans will accept him again since Mourinho left Old Trafford under a cloud, clashing with the board and some of his players, but hindsight has been kind to him. Many supporters now look back at his tenure as a time when standards were higher than they are today.

While Amorim’s philosophy looks fragile against top opposition, Mourinho offers steel, defensive organisation, and a winning mentality, three things United desperately lack. If Burnley take points off United this weekend, don’t be surprised if Mourinho’s name is whispered in the corridors of Old Trafford.

At West Ham, Graham Potter is already on thin ice. Three league games in, eleven goals conceded, and a fan base that’s quickly running out of patience with a project that was supposed to build on last season’s European momentum.

The Hammers’ squad, which includes proven names like Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paquetá, and James Ward-Prowse, doesn’t look short of talent, but it looks very short of direction.

This is where Mourinho could step in. His reputation for organisation and discipline fits the profile of what West Ham need. Supporters are frustrated by Potter’s timid football, and Mourinho’s fiery charisma would immediately energise the fanbase.

Imagine Mourinho turning the London Stadium into a fortress, masterminding gritty wins against bigger sides, and reigniting the West Ham faithful with his trademark touchline theatrics.

It might not be champagne football, but it could be effective, and effectiveness is exactly what West Ham need right now. His arrival would also align with the club’s ambitions of becoming a permanent fixture in Europe.

Nottingham Forest are in a strange place. On one hand, they’ve survived comfortably in the Premier League since promotion. On the other hand, tensions behind the scenes are bubbling.

Reports of a fractured relationship between Nuno Espírito Santo and club owner Evangelos Marinakis have sparked talk of a managerial change. If Nuno decides he’s had enough, Mourinho’s name instantly becomes attractive.

For Mourinho, this would be a project different from anything he’s done in recent years. Forest is a historic club with European pedigree, but also one that lives in the shadow of its past glories.

Taking charge at the City Ground could be Mourinho’s way of rebuilding his reputation in England without the crushing expectations of a superclub.

He would also get to work with Nigerian internationals Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina, which would certainly excite fans of the Super Eagles.

If Mourinho wants to return to the very top of European football, Atletico Madrid could offer him that chance. Diego Simeone’s reign at Atleti has been remarkable, but cracks are beginning to show after a rocky start to La Liga.

At some point, the club will have to consider life beyond Simeone, and Mourinho fits the profile perfectly. He has managed in Spain before, famously leading Real Madrid to a La Liga title by breaking Barcelona’s dominance, and his confrontational style would resonate with Atleti’s warrior-like culture.

Tactically, Mourinho’s compact, counter-attacking approach would not be too far from what Simeone has built over the years, which makes him a natural successor.

The only hurdle? Simeone is still adored by the fans, and any replacement would live in his shadow. Mourinho, however, has never shied away from pressure or confrontation. For him, a job like Atletico could mean returning to Champions League knockouts, title races, and a global spotlight.

The country has already lured stars like Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo, and it would not be surprising if they targeted Mourinho next.

The most enticing storyline would beb a reunion with Ronaldo at Al Nassr. The two enjoyed a successful, if occasionally turbulent, partnership at Real Madrid, and bringing them back together in Saudi Arabia would be box-office.

The money on offer would dwarf anything Mourinho could expect in Europe, but this would not just be about finances. It would be about legacy. By joining the Saudi project, Mourinho could position himself as one of the faces of the league’s global expansion, much like Ronaldo has.

For a manager who has always loved the limelight, this could be a compelling path. Whether he sees it as an adventure or a final payday, it’s an option firmly on the table.