When the Barcelona sports press pluck an impossible sounding idea from out of nowhere it’s not always wise just to chuckle and turn the page.
No one believed it when Sport newspaper floated the possibility of Louis van Gaal returning to Barca in 2002, yet a couple of months later, after the fans had got used to the idea, the Dutchman was starting an ill-fated second spell.
Could the same thing be happening with Jose Mourinho, who is currently getting the rehabilitation treatment in the Catalan media?
With the battle to wrest the league title from arch-rivals Real Madrid seemingly a lost cause, a host of leading players failing to live up to their billing and a series of increasingly pedestrian performances on the pitch, Barcelona are already thinking about next season.
They still have a chance of claiming any one of three major trophies, but unless they manage to overhaul Real and win the league or clinch a third European Cup no one seriously seems to believe that Frank Rijkaard will remain at the Nou Camp next season.
So who should step into the Barcelona hot seat?
A year ago, Juande Ramos was one of the favourites, but his multi-million move to Spurs seems to have scuppered that plan. Inevitably, given their history of Dutch coaches, Rijkaard’s former AC Milan colleague Marco van Basten has also been talked about as a likely candidate although interest in the Netherlands boss appears to have faded.
Given Barça’s desire to be seen as the guardians of the beautiful game Arsene Wenger is the connoisseur’s choice, but the name that comes up most frequently is that of Mourinho.
The Portuguese, who first came to notice when he was Bobby Robson’s assistant at the Nou Camp in the 1996-97 season, has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis from traitorous hate-figure to prodigal son in the space of the last 12 months.
Vilified as the architect of the “anti-football” that allowed Chelsea to dump Barça out of the Champions League three seasons ago, despised for his accusations that Rijkaard tried to pressurise referee Anders Frisk, scorned because of his criticisms of Lionel Messi’s play acting and ridiculed for his old job as Robson’s translator, Mourinho is now viewed in some quarters as the club’s saviour.
But if Rijkaard does go, would the Portuguese really be the right man to replace him? Shouldn’t Barça try to tempt Wenger away from his young charges at Arsenal instead? Or should they look to continue the Dutch connection and go for Van Basten?
And if the squad really needs to be whipped into shape is there anyone out there in favour of a third spell for Van Gaal*?
PHOTO: Van Gaal and his then assistant Mourinho watch their Barca team play Real Sociedad, May 14, 2000. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino.
* Follow the link for a nice look at the parallel lives of Van Gaal and Mourinho.
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8 comments so far
I think the timing might be right to give Mourinho a go. It would take an almost Orwellian rewriting of recent history from the local journalists but he might just be what this (underperforming) team needs.
- Posted by Kevin FylanI would just love it if Van Gaal came back. It would be hilarious¡ And ronaldinho would be out for a start.
- Posted by LondonMourinho was waiting for the Milan job but the European champions have picked up of late and Ancelotti may be safe for another year. With Klinsmann going to Bayern, the only big club left for Mour appears to be Barca.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsThe mood in the city is interesting. After years of success under Rijkaard it seems that everyone needs a change. Van Gaal would be the wrong choice, Mourinho? I think it would be a gamble worth taking. He is the perfect man for the job in almost every way apart from perhaps his tactics. The fans won’t tolerate too much negative football. If he could master being hard to beat with flair, then he would be a great success.
He was never that popular here, to say the least, when he was Chelsea manager, but maybe now the fans have got over that (especially after the way Chelsea treated him) and may even embrace him.
As for the man himself, it’s a club big enough to match his ego. If he succeeds, it will elevate him to true greatness, if he fails then it could get very interesting indeed.
- Posted by nextsoccerstar.comMourinho is the perfect man,Barca need him more dan Mourinho needs Barca.IF Barca are to win La Liga only one man can deliver it and hes THE SPECIAL ONE
- Posted by vatsalso Barca just pounce upon this guy,don let TSO go outta hands
Jose Mourinho would be the perfect man to take over at the Camp Nou. Just take a look at what happened at Chelsea, he took over a team of underachievers, brought in players of his own and turned the team into multiple cup winners in the space of a year.
- Posted by Betting Blue BoyAlthough it is true that in the latter days of his career in London it seemed that some of the dressing room were losing faith in the Special one Barcelona would probably do the same as Chelsea and look to rebuild when the time is right.
Jose would be the best option for Barca. Their style might be fun to watch most of the time but it’s becoming way too predictable and easy to counter. If the opposing side puts them under a lot of pressure or completely shuts down at the back, their whole game starts shaking and Rijkaard doesn’t know how to handle it. Mourinho is a fantastic tactician, he’ll find the right approach to those matches and situations.
- Posted by timesupMourinho definitely is the perfect choice. He showed in the UK that he can definitley handle any pressure which is sure to come his way in La Liga. In fact, I think most of the general public in the UK found him to be an amiable type of fellow. There’s no reason to think that he wont do the same job in Spain.
- Posted by Free Bets Genius