“If I speak, I’m in big trouble.” A quote as famed in sporting circles as any Winston Churchill rouse, but a philosophy that even Jose Mourinho himself cannot adhere to, as his sharp tongue, coupled with on-field results, sees the Portuguese tactician once again out of a job.
Mourinho’s surprise appointment at Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2024 was met with much fanfare. His role was to end the club's decade-long drought without a Turkish Süper Lig title and return them to the ranks of Europe’s elite.
Ultimately, he failed to achieve those lofty ambitions. A second-place finish in the league saw them land 11 points behind their rivals Galatasaray, and a 1-0 aggregate defeat to Benfica in the Champions League qualifiers saw them miss out on a competition that he was so desperate to prove his worth in one last time.
Off-field controversies followed Mourinho around in a way that only Jose can conjure. A three-match suspension for pinching the nose of Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk, accusations of racism and repeated clashes with referees were just some of the 62-year-old's lowlights over the last 12 months.
So, what’s next for the self-proclaimed Special One? He’s already stated his desire to head back to England and manage a team at the “bottom of the table”. A quote taken from yet another tired and frustrated post-game rant about UEFA officials following Fenerbahçe’s draw with Manchester United in the Europa League.
But following sackings at Roma, Tottenham, Manchester United and now Fenerbahçe, does he still have what it takes to adapt in the modern game? He has made a career out of being tactically astute, a master in the defensive arts of the game and moulding teams to be hard to beat, but is that enough in today’s data-driven climate?
The bookies suggest that there is still life in the old dog yet and have priced Mourinho’s suitors accordingly. West Ham, Rangers and Nottingham Forest are leading the line, but which offers the best value at this early stage? Let’s dive in.
Jose Mourinho's Next Job Betting Odds
bet365, which we’ve ranked as one of the top online betting sites, has the early betting odds on where Mourinho will end up next.
| Jose Mourinho Next Club | Odds |
|---|---|
| West Ham | 5/2 |
| Rangers | 10/3 |
| Nottingham Forest | 5/1 |
| Any Saudi Pro League Club | 13/2 |
| Manchester United | 13/2 |
| Portugal | 12/1 |
| Any MLS Team | 14/1 |
| Leeds | 14/1 |
| England | 20/1 |
*Odds correct as of 10:30 BST 31/8/2025. Odds subject to change.
West Ham – Hammer Time for Jose?
Graham Potter’s tenure at West Ham is on a knife-edge. He’s now one of the favourites for the next Premier League manager to be sacked after back-to-back league defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea, and then dumped out of the League Cup midweek by Wolves.
Fans are growing restless, and with the latest news that Lucas Paquetá is set to move to Aston Villa following Mohammed Kudus’s transfer to rivals Tottenham, the natives are frustrated, to say the least.
If Potter were to leave, this would be great for Mourinho. London-based, lower mid-table, potential for the club to grow and get into Europe. It ticks all the boxes.
This is a move that could happen quickly. The international break is just around the corner and is a popular time for clubs to make a fresh start, allowing new managers time to settle in. At odds of 5/2, this is the value play, and if West Ham were to lose to Forest on Sunday, these odds will likely shorten again.
Rangers – Can Mourinho Spark a Gers Revival?
Russell Martin is on life support at Rangers after a crushing 9-1 aggregate demolition by Club Brugge in the Champions League qualifiers. The Scottish club now must play in the Europa League and miss out on millions in revenue as a result.
Things haven’t been any better domestically at Ibrox. Three draws from their opening three games have them six points behind Celtic. In fact, Paddy Power is so sure that Celtic will win the league that they’ve already paid out on anyone who backed them. Talk about a slap in the face for Rangers fans.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire springs to mind when considering Mourinho to jump ship from Turkey to Glasgow. He absolutely has the tactical nous and aura to manage at a massive club like Rangers, but will he want to take on what’s become a bit of a poisoned chalice of late?
The lack of money, Europa League commitments, and a league title that already seems out of reach suggest to us that there will be better offers. Odds of 10/3 look reasonable, but the practicality of it all makes us think this won’t happen, and we’d likely avoid.
Nottingham Forest – No Way, Jose?
It’s crazy to think that we’re even discussing a possible exit for Nuno Espírito Santo, given he’s just guided Nottingham Forest into Europe for the first time since 1995. But here we are.
A fallout with the hierarchy at Forest, including owner Evangelos Marinakis, has spilt into the public domain, with a disagreement over transfer policy being at the heart of the issue. He’s now backed into as short as 5/2 to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked.
To calm speculation, Espírito Santo has come out and said that he has no intention of leaving the City Ground anytime soon. It would be crazy to think that this spat would escalate into a sacking. But Marinakis is not the calmest at the best of times, as highlighted by his decision to enter the pitch in protest of a poor refereeing performance towards the end of last season.
If relations were to break down and Nuno were to leave, Mourinho would be a great fit. He’d inherit an athletic, transitional squad that suits his direct style of play. And it would be a big name for the owners to integrate for a fanbase that will be frustrated to see one of their best managers in recent history leave.
But we can’t see this playing out. Forest will stick with the man who got them back into Europe, and even at odds of 5/1, there’s little value there to get excited about. This would be a move we would avoid, with West Ham or Rangers looking like a much stronger fit at present.
