“Door completely open” for Mourinho to be appointed Portugal coach | OneFootball

José Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to one day coach the Seleção in a major tournament and try and add international honours to his trophy-laden career.

That day may be fast approaching, according to media reports in Portugal. New Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença is widely reported to be keen on making Mourinho the Seleção coach.

And prominent Portuguese journalist Rui Santos opened his Monday night TV programme by claiming moves are in the works to appoint Mourinho as early as this summer.

Martínez feels the heat

After a long honeymoon period and an exemplary qualifying campaign for Euro 2024, current incumbent Roberto Martínez has come under heavy criticism for Portugal’s performance in the tournament itself, and some less than convincing displays since.

The Spaniard’s perceived ultra-conservative selection policy whereby anyone outside a restricted core of tried and trusted players are rarely given an opportunity, regardless of form, has been the subject of endless discussion in the local press.

There were even suggestions that Martínez could be fired if Portugal failed to turn around a 1-0 deficit against Denmark in the Nations League quarter-finals after a disastrous performance in Copenhagen in March. The Seleção won the second leg in Lisbon with an improved display, although it required extra time before Portugal prevailed 5-2 at the Alvalade stadium.

In Monday’s edition of Rui Santos em Campo, the well-connected journalist spoke about behind-the-scenes developments to replace Martínez with Mourinho.

Mourinho pressured to accept job

“José Mourinho is being highly pressured by Pedro Proença to be Portugal’s next coach. Approaches had been made in the past but Mourinho closed the door for several reasons, linked to the context and his situation in Turkey. More recently, and also owing to pressure also applied by Jorge Mendes, things have changed,” said Santos.

“The scenario right now is as follows. José Mourinho has not closed the door on the national team job, and what is in Pedro Proença’s mind may happen. Even if the Nations League goes well for the Seleção, Pedro Proença is extremely set on changing the Portugal coach. He is very favourable towards letting go of Roberto Martínez and if José Mourinho can be persuaded to come definitively to Portugal he will be the next national team coach.

“This is a big step forward, above all the idea that even if Portugal win a competition like the Nations League, the coach may be on his way out regardless.

“We should keep in mind that both Roberto Martínez at the FPF and José Mourinho at Fenerbahçe have contracts running until the summer of 2026. At the moment the contractual part of the situation is not being discussed, but I think it’s important to emphasise that the door is completely open, on the one hand because of the wishes of the FPF president, and also because of the intention – which we can say is the truth – that Mourinho has said he is available to be the next Portugal coach.”

Mourinho’s long-held ambition

Mourinho has often said one of his ambitions is to lead Portugal into a major tournament. One year ago he revealed he had been approached for the role before current Portugal manager Roberto Martínez was appointed, and regretted turning down the opportunity.

“I think I was emotional when I didn’t accept and decided to stay at Roma. I think I made a mistake,” he said in an interview with South Korea EA Sports. “Portugal wanted me twice and I think they will want me a third time, one day. And then I will accept it.”