"He welcomed our offer" - Super Lig side confirm talks with Jose Mourinho with rivals also battling for former Chelsea manager
Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas have confirmed that they are in talks to land former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. However, the Istanbul-based club reportedly face strong competition from local and fierce rivals Fenerbahce.
Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked by AS Roma in January and is understood to be keen on getting back to management. As claimed by Metro, he has no plans of retirement and is being considered by both Besiktas and Fenerbahce.
As per the reports, both sides have already gotten in touch with the former Chelsea manager. However, Besiktas vice-president Huseyin Yucel has even announced that they have already reached an agreement with 'the Special One.'
Yucel also insisted that former Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma will join Mourinho's coaching staff at the club. The Besiktas vice-president said, as quoted by Metro:
"We contacted Jose Mourinho a month ago and he welcomed our offer. We already resolved the economic details and will go to Italy next week so we can meet face to face. If we reach an agreement with Mourinho, then we will recommend he include Ricardo Quaresma in the staff."
Back in March, Jose Mourinho admitted that he is not interested in taking a break from management and is waiting for another opportunity. The former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager said:
"I’m not in a rest, I want to work. I want to work but I just don’t want to have the wrong decision. I have to wait for the right one, the one that motivates me. But if I could work tomorrow I would work tomorrow."
Mourinho is widely regarded as one of the best managers of the modern era but his career has gone downhill over the last decade. He has managed top clubs in Portugal, Spain, England and Italy and has tasted plenty of success everywhere.
Should the former Chelsea manager move to the Super Lig, it will be the first time he will be managing in Turkey. However, he has also emerged as a target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah after securing promotion to the Saudi Pro League.
Chelsea contact former-Manchester United coach with Mauricio Pochettino's future up in the air: Reports
Chelsea have reportedly gotten in touch with former Manchester United assistant manager Kieran McKenna's representative as they consider the future of Mauricio Pochettino. McKenna has made quite a name for himself by guiding Ipswich Town earn two back-to-back promotions.
The Blues are reportedly hugely impressed with the Northern Irishman under who tutelage Ipswich will play in the Premier League next season. Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, who was formerly linked with Liverpool, has also emerged as a potential option.
Pochettino is said to be under a lot of pressure despite Chelsea's strong finish to the season. The Blues finished the season in the sixth position despite mostly struggling for the majority of the campaign. The Argentine is contracted at the Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2025.