When Bin Zayed Group were hoping to complete a takeover at Newcastle, Jose Mourinho was reportedly their number one target to take over as manager of the football club.
Things did not work out according to plan for Sheikh Khaled, of course, and despite rumours the Portuguese flamboyant manager would be interested in taking the job, if new owners were installed, neither scenario materialised.
After Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking from Tottenham on Tuesday, news emerged early this morning that Mourinho has been appointed as manager at the London club.
Mourinho has been out of work since he was sacked at Manchester United, and has been linked with numerous clubs – including Newcastle – throughout 2019, and has been working as an analyst on television.
Newcastle fans were divided when talk of Mourinho emerged
Many Newcastle fans were divided over the rumours of Mourinho taking charge at the height of the takeover speculation in the summer, and that is generally what you get with the outspoken Portuguese boss.
Of course, much of the division was because Rafa Benitez was still in charge at St James’ Park, and most fans were still hoping he would remain in the job.
They may have been divided over Mourinho, but they would likely all have agreed he would have been a preferred choice over Steve Bruce.
Mourinho’s new team currently find themselves behind Bruce’s side in the Premier League table, with Spurs having gone from Champions League runners-up last season, to relative oblivion this campaign.
It will be interesting to see how he gets on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and whether he can lift them up the table, or if they will remain a possible rival of Newcastle, who hope to be in a mid-table battle for the rest of the season.
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