After almost a year without a club, former Manchester United and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho now returns to the sidelines. He recently replaced Mauricio Pochettino as the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, who was axed because of the team's poor performance. Reports have it that The Special One was offered a job at Real Madrid that he rejected at the last minute.
Real Madrid was prepared to reunite with Jose Mourinho before the Portuguese manager assumed his post as the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur a couple of weeks ago, The Sun reports. The Los Blancos were ready to offer The Special One a £12 million deal not to take any other job and wait for the departure of Zinedine Zidane. It appears that the Spanish giants did not like their former head coach associated with other European clubs, thus resorting to this drastic method.
The Portuguese, however, seemed to have set his heart on Tottenham after the exile of Mauricio Pochettino. Spurs' Chairman Daniel Levy rewarded Mourinho's patience and was named head coach of the club within 24 hours following Pochettino's departure. The former Chelsea coach recently shared that he felt right at home at Tottenham and could not think of going elsewhere, Fox Sports reports.
You can put any club in the world in front of me, but I would not move, Mourinho says. The Spanish giants were not the only club interested in Jose Mourinho, who is a two-time Champions League winner. Lyon, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund were reportedly eyeing him to be their next head coach. Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande allegedly was willing to pay The Special One £40 million per year after tax for his services.
Yet, when the Portuguese reportedly learned that the Tottenham job was in play, he happily took that road. Tottenham Hotspur did not begin the season in the best way anticipated. Its crisis spiked each day until the hierarchy decided to let go of Mauricio Pochettino. The poor start of the club this season aggravated and sped up the process of finding the replacement of the Argentine tactician.
In Oct. 21, a crucial meeting happened with Jose Mourinho canceling all his appointments at short notice to talk to Pini Zahavi, The Sun reports. The Special One reportedly left the meeting convinced that he will takeover Pochettino's post at Tottenham. Additionally, the Portuguese tactician prepared to reject any offer from other clubs, including Real Madrid's.
Jose Mourinho started his stint at Tottenham Hotspur with three wins in a row. The Lily Whites defeated West Ham United, Bournemouth, and Olympiacos with scorelines, 3-2, 3-2, and 4-2, respectively.
