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Updated October 22nd, 2019 at 15:29 IST

Real Madrid: Could Jose Mourinho replace Zinedine Zidane at Bernabeu?

Zidane has faced a tough time at Real Madrid this season. Los Blancos sit 2nd in LaLiga, and bottom of their Champions League group. Could Jose Mourinho return?

Reported by: Colin DCunha
Real Madrid
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2004 seems like a long time back but this was the year when Jose Mourinho declared himself as "the Special One". Mourinho was riding high on the back of winning the Champions League with Porto. In a press conference, after taking over the reins at Chelsea, the Portuguese declared that he didn't mean to be arrogant, but since he was a European Champion, he was the Special One. 

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Fast forward to 2019. Jose Mourinho currently works as a pundit for Sky Sports. His last managerial job was at English giants Manchester United. Mourinho, however, was sacked by the Manchester United board in December 2018, after starting the 2018-19 season with just seven wins in their first 17 Premier League games. Arguably one of the most successful managers of all time, Jose Mourinho currently finds himself out of the managerial seat. The question is, for how long?

Zinedine Zidane was appointed as Real Madrid manager in March earlier this year. Zinedine Zidane is the man who guided Real Madrid to three successive UEFA Champions League titles. However, the Frenchman has failed to oversee a turn in Real Madrid's fortunes this season. A 1-0 loss to Real Mallorca, who are, incidentally, the club with the lowest wage bill in LaLiga, has meant that Zinedine Zidane finds himself in the firing line after a disappointing run. Real Madrid are also bottom of their Champions League group, and a loss away at Galatasaray will mean that Real Madrid will have to face the possibility of playing in the Europa League this season.     

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Could the Special One return?

While Florentino Perez, Real Madrid President, may have backed the Frenchman with big-money signings like Eden Hazard, Real Madrid have failed to click under Zidane this season. The one player who Zidane wanted out of the club has been their most productive attacker this season - Gareth Bale. Amid such uncertainty, Florentino Perez will be more than happy to welcome Jose Mourinho back at the club. Mourinho has been out of a job ever since Man United sacked him in December last year, but is keen to return to management. Zidane himself has admitted that he has struggled to deal with speculation regarding his future as manager of Real Madrid.

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Mourinho has earlier stated that Real Madrid was his best experience as a coach. It's no secret that Florentino Perez favours the Portuguese, should Zidane's tenure take a turn for the worse in the next couple of weeks. It remains to be seen whether Sergio Ramos and his teammates will welcome the arrival of Mourinho at the Bernabeu, but Florentino Perez has been known to prefer a strong presence in the managerial dugout. Which means Jose Mourinho could be well primed to replace Zinedine Zidane in the Real Madrid dugout in the coming weeks.  

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Published October 22nd, 2019 at 12:22 IST

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