Portugal will have to overcome Jose Mourinho 's own doubts if they are to appoint him as the successor to Fernando Santos.
Santos is on the verge of getting sacked by the Portuguese FA after a World Cup campaign that saw them stunned by Morocco in the quarter-finals. Though he won the country's first ever major trophy at Euro 2016, results at major tournaments since then have been disappointing.
They were knocked out in the last 16 at the World Cup four years ago and reached that same stage at Euro 2020. Santos is now battling to save his job, though it appears likely he will leave his post.
According to reports in Italy, Mourinho has emerged as the Portuguese FA's top target to take over the national side. Mourinho is the country's most successful ever manager, having won eight league titles, two Champions Leagues, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League.
He is currently in charge of Roma, having taken over ahead of last season, though has endured mixed results in the Italian capital. Despite that, the Portuguese FA are heavily interested in naming him their new coach.
It is claimed they would allow him to combine his role at Roma with his job at the national team. The next major tournament on the international stage will be Euro 2024 in 18 months' time, with the qualifiers beginning in March.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Jose Mourinho take the Portugal manager's job? Comment below.
Former Portuguese international Maniche, who played under Mourinho at Porto, certainly believes his old boss is the perfect man to take over. He hailed Mourinho's experience and his track record of success as he called for him to replace Santos.
"José Mourinho makes perfect sense for the position, for everything he has already conquered and has been conquering. He has already been to the best clubs in the world, he has won titles in all of them and he lacks the national team," Maniche told Radio Renascença.
"He is an experienced coach who is very prepared for difficulties because he knows our football and football abroad, he is intelligent and knows how to deal with young people. I think he would gather consensus to be a selector."
Santos himself even suggested last year that Mourinho would be his pick to eventually replace him, though he did insist he wanted to see out his contract.
"That project lasts until 2024, and I committed myself to him until that time. But after then I will think about what I want to do. Jose Mourinho would be a good replacement for me," he told Radio Renascenca in April 2021.
But while Portugal want to follow the advice of their current manager and former player, they have some convincing to do. Mourinho has previously spoken of his desire to be an international manager, but has been unsure if Portugal would be the right job.
"Yes, I want to coach a national team, I want to have the experience of a World Cup and European Championship, the emotion of the short competition," he said in 2020.
"Is Portugal the one I want to do? On one side yes as it is my heart. But it is very difficult to do it with the country you were born in."
With the talent that Portugal have at their disposal and only 18 months before the next tournament, Mourinho may be tempted to take on the job. His current deal at the Stadio Olimpico does not expire till 2024, though he is reportedly set to be handed a new contract, though it's unclear whether Roma would be open to sharing him with Portugal.
