Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that managing in Scotland appeals to him and he has refused to rule out taking charge of either Celtic or Rangers in the future.
The 62-year-old was appointed Fenerbahce boss in June last year and he has since won 64.3% of his 42 matches in charge, with his side still competing for three trophies in the second half of the campaign.
Mourinho’s contract with the Turkish giants is due to expire at the end of next season in 2026, and while the Portuguese is currently content with life in Istanbul, speculation over his long-term future has been rife.
A return to the Premier League with Everton was mooted earlier this season after Mourinho hinted at the possibility of returning to England, but the Toffees decided to appoint David Moyes as Sean Dyche‘s successor.
Ahead of Fenerbahce’s Europa League last-16 first-leg tie at home to Rangers on Thursday night, Mourinho has been quizzed on a future managerial role in Scotland.
Mourinho’s illustrious managerial career, which has seen him win 26 trophies with six different clubs, began in the north Ayrshire town of Largs in Scotland where he earned his coaching badges in the 1990s.
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Mourinho open to managing Celtic or Rangers in the future
Asked at a press conference on Wednesday whether managing Rangers or Celtic would be an attractive proposition, Mourinho said: “In this moment, no, because I have a job that motivates me and a job that demands loyalty. But why not in the future?
“People can say that the Scottish league is a league of two teams, but it’s a league of passion. It’s a league of passion. And for me, passion in football is everything.
“For me, to play in empty stadiums, to play in competitions where there is not that fire of the passion doesn’t make any sense.
“And Celtic and Rangers, they are big clubs with big fan bases, with big emotions, big responsibilities, big expectations. Why not?
“But in this moment, I have a job. Celtic has a fantastic coach like Brendan [Rodgers]. Rangers have [Barry] Ferguson now, so full respect for them and I’m not searching for a new job.”
Celtic are on course to win a record-equalling 55th Scottish Premiership title and retain their top-flight crown for a third straight season, as they currently sit a whopping 16 points clear of Rangers – who have 55th titles to their name – in second place with only nine league games remaining.
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Mourinho claims Rangers test will be “much more difficult” with Ferguson in charge
Rangers head to Istanbul following a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Motherwell in the Premiership under new head coach Barry Ferguson, although Mourinho believes Thursday’s first leg will be tougher than if Philippe Clement was still at the helm.
Clement, who was sacked by Rangers just under two weeks ago after 16 months in charge at Ibrox, had criticised Mourinho’s “defensive style” shortly after the Europa League last-16 draw was made.
“It’s going to be much more difficult with [Ferguson] as a coach than with the previous coach,” said Mourinho. “Because the previous coach was more worried about philosophy than on the pitch. It’s on the pitch that you win matches, it’s not with philosophy.
“For sure, Ferguson will be much more pragmatic, much more objective, and it will be hard for us, but it’s going to be hard for them.”
On Ferguson, Mourinho added: “I know his history as a football player for Scotland, for Rangers.
“I don’t know much about his career as a coach, but I respect a lot the emotional connection between him as a coach and his club now. That is a very important thing in a football club, the connection between the fans and the coach.”
While Rangers secured an automatic last-16 spot in the Europa League after finishing in the top eight of the 36-team League Phase, Fenerbahce finished way down in 24th spot and required a 5-2 aggregate victory over Anderlecht in the playoff round to reach the knockout rounds.
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