As Manchester United fans celebrate the appointment of Jose Mourinho, "The Special One", as the team's new manager and I question what makes him so unique, I think back to what he said a couple of years ago about his future career options.
"The job is for me when I want to finish my career; the job is for me when I realise that I need a little rest but at this moment I want to train, I want to play. I want to play many competitions at the same time; I want to play at least three days; I want Champions League; I want the championship; I want everything. It is not a job for me to be two years waiting for a World Cup or for a European Cup, I can’t do that now.”
He's talking about managing the Portuguese national team. He obviously still feels the urge to train and play everyday, as he takes on this new "project" (with thanks to Andre Villas Boas for the ridiculous use of that word). But for how much longer? Think about this possible scenario.
Man. Utd improve a lot under Mourinho, but the entertainment value doesn't get much better than what Van Gaal's team produced. They qualify, just about, for the Champions League in Mourinho's first season, but the fans are already restless. In his second season things don't get much better. United sneak out of the Champions League group stage and lose in the last 16. They struggle in the league again. Mourinho is extremely frustrated with all the criticism aimed at him for his boring, negative football and goes on a number of "why does everyone in England hate me" rants. At the same time, Portugal are struggling through World Cup qualifying and finally make it through the playoffs. The Portuguese FA start making noises about replacing the manager before the World Cup. Mourinho is mentioned. Is this his time, we wonder. After another "you don't understand me" monologue at a press conference, Mourinho announces he is going to take his ultimate dream job (and a huge severance payment) and coach his native Portugal at the World Cup. And all he wants is to beat England in Russia. So off he goes into the twilight of his career. And the world gets to see some of the most entertaining press conferences ever (rivalling Maradona's) at a World Cup.
Is this my prediction? I don't make predictions. Call it fantasy, that may come true.
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