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He may only have been out of work for a matter of weeks, but legendary manager Jose Mourinho is already plotting a return to the game.

The 61-year-old, dubbed The Special One by the British media, was dismissed from his role with Roma in January after a string of poor results. Mourinho has managed the likes of Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United and boasts an incredible track record of delivering silverware.

However Mourinho is not without regrets. In a recent interview with Ohm, a soccer influencer, he was asked which players he wished he had coached.

He replied: “An example is Messi, he doesn’t need to be coached. Who can say ‘I was Messi’s coach’?”

“It seems absurd to me, because he knows everything and was born with everything. Maybe he can teach you things… It would only be to say that I had the honour of having him in the team.”

But Messi is not the only player that Mourinho has coveted over his two-decade-long career at the elite level.

“I would have liked [Daniele] De Rossi at Inter and Real Madrid, but it wasn’t possible,” he explained. “I also wanted [Francesco] Totti at Inter, despite his age, and it wasn’t possible. They’re always players you want to coach in your career.”

Could Jose Mourinho move to MLS?

The Portuguese manager was let go by Roma after two-and-a-half years in the Italian capital. He brought continental silverware with the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2021/22 and took the team to the Europa League final the following season. However since then some poor results and his combative touchline antics have forced the Roma board to part with the illustrious coach.

So what next for Mourinho? The 61-year-old confirmed that he is eager to stay in the game and revealed that he is open to a move to the United States in the future.

“I see myself coaching a [club] team, coaching the national team, or helping develop soccer in the US,” he said. “When I’m tired of winning things in Europe, it’s something I want to do.”

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has not managed to find a settled system during the Herons’ preseason preparations and will need to show some improvement soon. He led them to the Leagues Cup in 2023 but patience is at a premium at the ambitious MLS club, who have a narrow window to capitalise on the presence of Lionel Messi.

If Martino’s Miami struggle in 2024 the stage could be set for Mourinho to swoop in and finally, two decades after their first meeting, work alongside Lionel Messi.