José Mourinho, the renowned football manager, is reportedly engaged in discussions to become the new head coach of Saudi Pro League team Al Shabab FC. Following his recent departure from Roma, Mourinho is currently negotiating with Al Shabab’s sporting director, Domenico Tite, while his agent, Jorge Mendes, is in talks with the team management. However, Mourinho has also received interest from European clubs, indicating that he may still have alternative options before deciding on a move to Saudi Arabia.
Al Shabab FC currently finds itself in the 11th position in the Saudi Pro League. The team has struggled this season, managing to win only five out of their 19 league games. Consequently, they are actively seeking a replacement for their embattled manager, Igor Biscan. Despite their current performance, the squad boasts a number of notable players including former Atlético Madrid star Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, Éver Banega, Romain Saïss, Habib Diallo, and several Saudi Arabian internationals.
José Mourinho has expressed his openness to working in the Gulf state on several occasions. As early as October, he revealed that he was “convinced” he would eventually take up a managerial role in the region. During his time as Roma coach, he also disclosed that he had turned down a lucrative offer from a Saudi team. This potential move to Al Shabab could materialize his long-standing interest in coaching in Saudi Arabia.
If the negotiations proceed favorably, Mourinho’s contract with Al Shabab would make him Jorge Mendes’ third client in the Saudi Pro League. Mendes has already collaborated with Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus at Al Hilal and Luis Castro at Al Nassr. This partnership between Mourinho and Mendes has previously yielded fruitful results, and it would come as no surprise if they successfully establish Mourinho at Al Shabab.
In an intriguing twist, if the deal with Al Shabab is finalized swiftly, Mourinho’s first game in charge could be against his former club, Roma, in a friendly match scheduled for Wednesday in Riyadh. Such a contest would undoubtedly capture the attention of football enthusiasts and offer an early test for the Portuguese manager in his new role.
As José Mourinho engages in talks with Al Shabab FC, the possibility of him taking over as their new head coach looms. While negotiations are ongoing, there are alternative options on the table for Mourinho, with interest from European clubs. Al Shabab, on their part, seeks to revitalize their season under a new manager. With the potential inclusion of Mourinho’s strategic acumen and the talent within the squad, a successful collaboration might be on the horizon. Football fans eagerly anticipate the outcome of these discussions as Mourinho considers his next career move.
Leave a Reply