Is The Special One Becoming Unhireable?

He is the self proclaimed Special One. He has won pretty much everything at club level. And yet is Jose Mourinho in danger of alienating himself from every big job in the future?

His rant after last week's Champions League first leg defeat to FC Barcelona was at best ill-advised. One can only speculate how vitriolic it would have been had both clubs not been locked in their dressing rooms for ten minutes after the match!

He has always said he wants to return to England, and to Old Trafford in particular when Sir Alex retires. But can you see Manchester United wanting to bring in such a maverick manager and risk sullying their good reputation within the game?

The English press have always loved him for some reason, but this is not the case in Spain, just as it wasn't when he was in Italy with FC Internazionale. And he seriously damaged his reputation at the Bernabeu over the last fortnight when forfeiting both La Liga and the Champions League. Real Madrid have sacked recent manages for similar.

Another club that has been linked with a move for him are the blue side of Manchester. But then they already have a negative, defensive manager at Eastlands. Why would they want to hire a manager who starts with three top strikers and a former FIFA World Player Of The Year on the bench in a crucial European match?

As for Chelsea, last week will only have served to remind Mr Abramovich why he dispensed with the Portuguese coach's services back in 2007. I have always thought it would be a mistake on both sides if he returned to West London. The old cliche "you should never go back" has never been more appropriate.

I don't think there are many, if any, other options. Liverpool won't be looking for a new manager, and he doesn't play football to suit Arsenal's style, even if Arsene Wenger left The Emirates this summer. He wouldn't be too welcome back in Italy, no other club in Spain is going to be able to afford him, and Portugal isn't an option as it isn't high profile enough for him.

Therefore, his only option as I see it, is to stay at The Bernabeu and try to rebuild his reputation, and repair relations with the Madrid hierarchy, which are sure to have taken a battering this week.

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