Jose Mourinho refused to rule out an emotional return as he drops next job hint amid Chelsea links as Ruben Amorim passes audition
Jose Mourinho was spotted at the Estádio José Alvalade watching Sporting CP lock horns with Benfica on Saturday night. Geny Catamo fired Ruben Amorim’s side to a 2-1 win over the Eagles, extending their advantage at the top of the Primeira Liga.
Sporting, who still have one more game in hand, are now four points clear of Benfica in the title race. While the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Ousmane Diomande have played crucial roles for the Portuguese outfit this season, attracting interest from the Premier League, Amorim has been largely responsible for their impressive performances.
The 39-year-old has transformed Sporting into one of the most exciting teams in Europe, rebranding the back-five into an attacking formation. Not only has he led the club to the top of the Primeira Liga, with a 20th league title in sight, he’s also taken them to the Taça de Portugal final.
Amorim’s eye-catching results have reportedly courted the interest of several Premier League clubs in the market for a new manager. According to The Guardian in March, Chelsea identified the Sporting boss as a potential replacement for Mauricio Pochettino, should he be sacked.
The Portuguese tactician has also been heavily linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, with the German set to leave Anfield at the end of the season. So, to see what all the fuss is about, Mourinho visited the Estádio José Alvalade to watch Amorim work his magic during Sporting’s clash against Benfica – and he didn’t disappoint.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager, who left Roma in January after two-and-a-half-years in the Italian capital, was spotted in a box by Portuguese outlet A Bola. Sporting directors Frederico Varandas and Rui Costa were also in attendance for the title showdown.
Last month, Mourinho was quizzed on his future and a potential return to management in Portugal. The 61-year-old refused to rule out an emotional return to Benfica, where he landed his first job in management in 2000.
He managed the Eagles for just nine league games before resigning after new president Manuel Vilarinho refused to offer him a new contract. As quoted by the Daily Star, Mourinho said: “Benfica are part of my past. Only God will know about my future.
“I live near Lisbon. Going to Estadio da Luz is easy – 20 minutes and I’m there. I get very well looked after, but I also go to Sporting Lisbon too and they do the same. At the moment, I am taking advantage of some downtime and being able to do the things I like.”
After leaving Benfica, Mourinho joined Leiria before joining Porto just a few months later where he established himself as one of the top managers in Europe.
