JOSE MOURINHO is closing in on a return to football, it’s been claimed.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager has been unemployed since being sacked by Italian giants Roma in January – eight months after guiding them to Europa Conference League glory.
Mourinho, 61, has been linked with a slew of jobs in the four months since his axing – including a shock return to Old Trafford.
But The Special One’s period of unemployment is said to be nearing an end.
That’s according to SportItalia, who claim the Portuguese is being lined up to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadisiyah.
But the controversial Mourinho won’t be taking charge of the Saudi Pro League side’s first team.
It’s claimed he’s “close” to being appointed as the Kingdom club’s new sporting director.
The job would be the first first non-managerial role of Mourinho’s recent career.
Mourinho has remained tight-lipped on the intense speculation over his future, which included rumours of a move to Liverpool to replace the recently departed Jurgen Klopp.
He did, however, outline the minimum requirements for his next job in late April.
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He told The Telegraph: “The only thing I want is that the targets and the objectives have to be established by everyone in a fair way.
“I cannot go to a club where, because of my history, the objective is to win the title. No.
“The only thing I want is that it has to be fair.
“Do you think if I was at a big Premier League club and we were sixth, seventh, eighth, in the table, I still have a job?
“What I am saying is people [should] look at me the way they look at others.
“What is important for me is if the club has objectives and for me to be able to say I am ready to fight for these.
“I don’t want to say realistic, but [at least] semi-realistic.
“Because when I went to Roma nobody was dreaming about European Cup finals and we did it.
“It’s not possible I go to a club almost relegated and the objective is to win the Champions League. It’s good but it is not fair.”
