It was great to see Jose Mourinho teasing the prospect of one day managing in Scotland.
I’d love to see the Special One in Glasgow – but at Rangers. Mourinho’s admission he’s a secret lover of the Scottish game got fans of both sides of the Glasgow divide excited at the prospect of him coming in.
There is absolutely no doubt he’s one of the best bosses of all time and while some might say his powers are on the wane, he’s proved in recent times he’s still top drawer. Mourinho has taken on some tough jobs of late and it’s a difficult one at Fenerbahce as well.
We all know how managers fare in Turkey and it’s likely to end the same way for him there eventually. He’s been dogged by controversy out there, so it would be no surprise if he is in the market for a gig in the relatively near future. Could that be in Scotland?
As far as Celtic are concerned, not for me. I haven’t forgotten Seville and the antics of his Porto players in the UEFA Cup Final. I’m sure plenty of Celtic fans haven’t forgiven him either. I know it still sticks in the throat of the likes of Martin O’Neill. There will be some supporters who would lap it up if Mourinho did appear at Parkhead though.
But here’s a question. Mourinho as next manager – or a new contract for Brendan Rodgers? I know what I’d be going for. Mourinho would be exciting but it could also be a rollercoaster ride. You look at the job Rodgers has done at the club and it has been astonishing.
He could complete another clean sweep this season and it would mean he’s only failed to win one trophy across his two spells. That’s an incredible record. Celtic’s success has been built on stability – and that is what Rodgers brings.
I don’t mean that in a boring sense either. Rodgers has built teams that play thrilling football, they score a ton of goals and deliver silverware. Mourinho could do that too, but there’s no need to upset any apple carts at Parkhead. It works under Rodgers, so why even consider changing it? I don’t think he’ll leave before his contract is up at the end of next season.
But after that is anyone’s guess. Only Rodgers will know want he wants to do that at that point. If there’s any chance to get him on an extended deal then Celtic should grab it. I’d still love to see Mourinho in these parts though – and that means across the city at Rangers.
Supporters at Ibrox believed they are going to be billionaires in the summer when the takeover goes through, so why not think big? Contrary to what some Rangers fans think, I would like to see them get their act together. Let’s be honest, the Premiership is going to be boring for the rest of the season.
Even the derbies are pretty much meaningless. There’s no jeopardy, the stakes are low and the rewards are pretty much non-existent beyond temporary bragging rights. Scottish football could do with Rangers being competitive again – and it would be brilliant to see someone like Jose at the helm.
Their supporters could be doing with some excitement after years in the doldrums. At times I’ve actually felt sorry for them as they have been so rotten. Scottish football wouldn’t be boring, that’s for sure. It would be absolute box office.
Mourinho might be older but you can see he still has the same appetite for a challenge and the same devilment. I loved his little barb aimed at Philippe Clement. The Belgian had some cheek taking a pop at Mourinho’s style and you just knew the Portuguese wouldn’t be able to resist a dig back, even if the target was no longer in the opposition dug out.
And that’s what you’d get if he did come to Scotland. It would be mayhem at times, with his own brand of chaos that comes with him.
Look at his rows in Turkey over referees. Can you imagine how he’d get on with our officials? It would be worth watching. And these are the kinds of characters we want in Scottish football. We’ve seen it with Rodgers and with Steven Gerrard, and several others over the years.
Mourinho spoke with some affection when he talked about the Scottish game this week and he would help make it absolutely unmissable. He’d have a tough job on his hands reeling in Celtic though. The title is tucked away but it’s all about the Scottish Cup now – and completing another Treble.
It’s become so much the norm at the club I think it has been lost in the wash just how big an achievement it still is. Trebles don’t come easy – even if they make it look that way.
This weekend’s quarter-final clash is anything but easy though. Hibs will be a proper test for Celtic. The turnaround under David Gray has been extraordinary. They will fancy their chances on Sunday.
Hibs got the better of Celtic at Easter Road and even in the defeat at Parkhead previously, they created chances and were unfortunate to lose 3-0. That win in Leith might just sharpen the senses for Celtic though. They won’t take anything for granted and Rodgers has the benefit of a week off to prepare.
They did look a little jaded in recent games, but that just shows the strength of this Celtic side. Even when they are not quite on it, they still get results. It says it all the fact they were not at their best against Aberdeen and St Mirren – yet they still scored 10 goals.
That’s the challenge for any team trying to stop them but if anyone has a chance then it’s this Hibs side. It has the makings of a terrific tie, and maybe even Mourinho will be tuning in.