Amid all the talk and speculation over Jose Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea and where he will end up next, we have heard about the possibilities of him going to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and England.
But one name that hasn’t been mentioned is that of West Ham United. When you have got back up from the floor from laughing and composed yourself, let me say that I know there are reasons for that, but theirs would not be out of place among all the other names being bandied around.
It has come to the attention that, as expected, Mourinho wants himself and his family to stay in London. If Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain interest the Portuguese, he can reach both cities within a couple of hours or more from England’s capital.
And with Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking to leave the latter at the end of this season, the Swede’s great respect for Mourinho could well help persuade the striker to stay in the City of Love. Although, with the side doing exceptionally well this season under Laurent Blanc, it looks unlikely to happen.
But if Mourinho really, really wants to live in London then City, United and the French champions would obviously not be the ideal clubs to join.
Not moving to the areas where they reside would demonstrate a lack of firm commitment, and despite Mourinho’s stellar standing in the game, his recent struggles mean he has lost a little bit of the clout attached to his name that would help support any decision he made without the questioning from the club’s hierarchy.
When you look at the list of Mourinho’s clubs from Porto onwards – Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid – West Ham do not fall into the same category; they’re big, but they are in the middle rung of the ladder of football.
However, that could soon change when The Hammers make the Olympic Stadium their home. It would take a few years of course – they’re not going to suddenly transform into champions the moment they step out onto their new pitch (although with Mourinho at the helm who knows!) – but there is no doubt that the east London club have a very realistic chance of being the new gatecrashers of the top four party in the next few years.
There is, of course, the issue of Slaven Bilic being the current boss, a man who the majority of West Ham fans love, both as a former player and for the results he has gathered so far this campaign. But we cannot hide from the fact that Bilic was not the club’s first choice to take over. Hell, he was not even second or third choice!
Supporters may find his football easier on the eye than that of former boss Sam Allardyce but form has dipped, which has seen The Hammers win just one of their last nine games, picking up nine points in the process. That’s almost relegation form.
We have seen what has happened to Manchester City since their move into the City of Manchester Stadium and how that helped boost their profile around the world. Make no mistake about it, West Ham will be a very attractive proposition for a would-be investor – they have a rich history and will be based in an up and coming area of the capital city that is lucrative for business.
It would be these aspects and maybe the temptation of a different challenge, plus the fact that he wants to stay in London, that could see Mourinho as West Ham manager come August next year. It really is not that mad a thought.
It’s unlikely, but no more unlikely than saying at the start of the season that Leicester would be top of the table and Chelsea would be three points off the drop zone come Christmas. Ravanelli joining Middlesbrough at his peak soon after winning the Champions League, Keegan to Southampton…football’s full of surprises.
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Where do these dickheads get thier ideas from certainly not thier brains! Perhaps ricky murray is always talking out of his arse but after i read his thiughts on jose coming to my club when we already have the best coach around and gettting results and points with six of our best players injured i really think the guys in white will be taking him away to the hospital he escaped from. Were seventh and only ten points behind arsenal playing our bare bones side waiting for the return of our injured a brilliant half season up to now and as much as i rate morinho we already have our special one not a overated german fitness coach or a spanish good but not exceptional coach so jose had better look elsewhere maybe mancs who have another overated coach.
Must have been the same hospital you escaped from (although I don’t remember doing so myself), if the ‘overated german fitness coach’ you speak of is referring to the Jurgen Klopp who led Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a Champions League final and a German cup.
You forgot to mention the more recent 4-0 reverse against Southampton – a team that Bilic’s much depleted Hammers beat two days ago…..
Not wanted in E13 (or E20) … Let him join the Mancs… most of their fans live in London too!
Ricky,
you’re just wrong with your suggestion West Ham would swap an existing popular manager for an egotist like Mourinho, recently fired for taking a team from champs to 15th placed chumps in less than 6 months. Wherever West Ham finish and regardless of whoever you personally support (not Hammers I assume…) our club is definitely moving in the right direction.
Why would you assume that from me biggin’ up West Ham?
We do not have the sort of cash for the wages he would command or the transfer funds managers like him require.But i would still rather have slaven billic than any of the other big names regardless of the clubs finances-Slaven is bringing the west ham way to the OS,i would hate to see the club and fans turn into a plastic chelsea.
No chance in the world!! Mourinho doesn’t want to come, owners don’t want him to come and fans don’t want him. Your deluded Ricky! I could write a book on what is wrong with this article.
And I think the tone and point of this article ELUDED you.
Codswallop.
He’s a great manager, but we’re not like other clubs with a new manager every 3 months. Bilic should be here to stay for a long time. We’re doing well, playing football the ‘West Ham way’ and getting good results against top teams. We sit 7th in the league with a Europa Cup position a real possibility.
Articles unlike this, out of the blue, just serve to unsettle things. Why do you write such shi*?
Unsettle things? Because David Sullivan’s admission this week that Rafa Benitez was two hours away from being appointed West Ham manager did no such thing.
Ricky,
We’ll do it the West Ham way with people we believe in!! We’re all good!
A small minded shit stirrer like you more importantly should be fired by the start of 2016. At least Mourinhyoface will be collecting redundancy payments!
You should be front of the line in a soup kitchen by the end of this season! Cheers mate!
Yeah, we’ll do it the West Ham way’ and not win a trophy for 35 or more years. ‘Mourinhyoface’ – I like that.
I know it’s the season to be jolly but what ever your on you should probably take less!!!!!!!
With the amount of exclamation marks you’ve put there, I suggest you do the same.
Why, thank you, Alan. Thank you.
Wow what nonsense lol ..its also the 1st time ive seen the author of an article get into a slanging match in the comments section lol …happy new year everybody ! Coyi!
If it’s good enough for the best in the business, Martin Samuel, then it certainly is for little ol’ me.