da dobrowin： Shortly after winning an unprecedented treble with Internazionale the self-proclaimed ‘special one,’ Jose Mourinho took charge of Real Madrid. Following two trophyless seasons at the Bernabeu, the club dismissed Manuel Pellegrini and brought in a manager to match their galactico players. Before his move was sealed, Mourinho targeted a “grand slam” of Spanish, Italian and English league titles, a feat yet to be achieved by a manager or player. Having made an indifferent league start, has the former Chelsea manager already indicated where his next challenge lies? He declared an interest in coaching the Portuguese national team for their two Euro 2012 qualifiers next month. Will a man whose ambition and ego are unrivalled take to the international stage next?
da pixbet： Madrid flaunted their ample check book again this summer but not to the dramatic effect of the previous year. Nonetheless Mourinho signed Germany’s Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira as well as Ricardo Carvalho and Angel Di Maria. Last week Sir Alex Ferguson said of his task, “The Real Madrid job is the hardest challenge in Jose’s career. I’ve spoken to Jose a couple of times and he is not managing a normal football club.” His words were prescient as the Portuguese tactician has already faced criticism for his cautious yet clinical brand of football. Thus far his star-studded side have played five, winning three and drawing two. In his first game as manager the team lost Cristiano Ronaldo to injury and drew to Mallorca. Whistles from the home crowd blemished their 1-0 victory over Osasuna. Los Blancos sit comfortably in fourth place, however, one point behind behind Barcelona who he will attempt to dethrone as league champions.
Regardless of contrasting football beliefs between the manager and the supporters, his short tenure at the club so far has been overshadowed by a story linking him to the Portuguese national job, albeit temporarily. After dismissing Carlos Queiroz the Portuguese Football Federation approached Mourinho about the prospect of presiding over two impending qualifiers against Denmark and Iceland. The functioning workaholic was purportedly interested in the offer. “I don’t understand why Real will not let me coach Portugal when I have almost nothing to do in Madrid.” There will be no La Liga fixtures during the forthcoming international break. A frank exchange with the club’s general director, Jorge Valdano presumably ensued as Mourinho has since acknowledged that the interim role was not feasible.
Nevertheless this intriguing episode has alerted bookmakers as to where Mourinho will go next. International glory would undoubtedly allow him to realise his dream of being the world’s most successful football manager. His current target is to bestow Real Madrid with a record tenth European Cup and to become the first tactician to win the Champions League with three different clubs. It is worth noting that Chelsea fired him for failing in this regard and Massimo Moratti considered doing the same after his first season at the San Siro. Patience was a virtue for the Milanese club and the same quality may be required at Madrid, especially after warning that he is, “not Harry Potter.”
If he can conquer this challenge and not falter in his ambitions there is surely only one destination left for him, international management. Similarly Carlo Ancelotti has stated that his one unfulfilled ambition in football is to manage an African team at the World Cup. Two noteworthy former Real Madrid managers, Fabio Capello and Vicente del Bosque took to the international arena with mixed effect in recent times. Few would bet against Mourinho following that illustrious route.
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