José Mourinho slightly opened the door to Scotland on Wednesday afternoon. Ahead of the Europa League clash with Rangers FC, a club whose fans hold warm feelings for the Portuguese manager, The Special One hinted that he is open to a future in Scotland.
Embed from Getty Images
Fenerbahçe’s Europa League journey took a significant step forward on Thursday evening, as they battled their way to a vital 2-1 victory over Glasgow Rangers in a pulsating encounter in Istanbul.
But the match itself was only part of the story. Much of the attention leading up to kickoff had centered around José Mourinho, who with his usual blend of charm and calculated messaging had set tongues wagging by flirting with the idea of a future in Scottish football.
It was during Wednesday’s pre-match press conference that Mourinho, never one to shy away from a headline, was asked if he would ever consider managing in Scotland. His answer was classic Mourinho: direct, playful, and tantalizingly non-committal. "Why not?" he said with a smirk. "People often say only two teams really matter in Scottish football, but it’s a league built on passion and for me, passion is everything in football."
That single quote was enough to ignite excitement among Scottish fans, especially those who support Rangers, a club with a historic rivalry against Celtic the team Mourinho famously conquered in 2003 when his FC Porto lifted the UEFA Cup. That night in Seville, Mourinho announced himself on the European stage, and although it was Celtic who suffered defeat, Rangers fans have always held a certain fondness for the Portuguese coach. The enemy of your enemy is, after all, your friend.
Yet, as much as Mourinho left the door slightly ajar to the idea of managing north of the border, he was careful to emphasize his commitment to his current employers. "My future is not important right now," he stressed. "My loyalty lies with Fenerbahçe, and my focus is entirely on helping this club achieve its goals." Mourinho’s contract in Istanbul runs until the summer of 2025, and according to Fotomac, the Fenerbahçe hierarchy is already working behind the scenes to extend his stay by another year a sign of just how highly the club values his leadership.
Mourinho’s relationship with Scottish football goes beyond that famous night in Seville. His admiration for the sheer intensity of the Old Firm rivalry has been well-documented, and his comments about passion were not just off-the-cuff remarks to please his audience. Mourinho has long said that he thrives in environments where football is lived and breathed every day, where results are dissected over breakfast, and where managers are treated like messiahs or villains, depending on the result that weekend. In many ways, Scottish football with its tribal loyalty and unrelenting passion feels tailor-made for a character like Mourinho.
As for the match itself, Fenerbahçe delivered a performance that bore all the hallmarks of a classic Mourinho side controlled, tactically disciplined, and ruthlessly effective when chances came their way. The Turkish giants took the lead early through a well-rehearsed set-piece routine, exploiting Rangers’ vulnerability in defensive organization. The atmosphere inside the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium was electric, with the home fans turning the arena into a wall of noise that visibly unsettled the Scottish visitors.
Rangers fought back bravely, showing glimpses of their attacking threat, but Fenerbahçe’s compact defensive shape and aggressive midfield pressing limited the quality of their final ball. A second Fenerbahçe goal, coming from a swift counterattack, gave the hosts breathing room before Rangers pulled one back late on to keep the tie alive. The result leaves Fenerbahçe with a slender but significant advantage heading into the second leg in Glasgow a city where Mourinho’s name will now be on even more lips than usual.
The importance of the result cannot be overstated for Fenerbahçe. European success is a cornerstone of Mourinho’s identity as a coach, and his arrival in Istanbul was always about more than just domestic silverware. Winning the Süper Lig would be expected; making a deep run in Europe would elevate Mourinho’s legacy in Turkey to something far more lasting. Beating Rangers, a club with both pedigree and history in European competition, is a step toward that goal.
But in true Mourinho fashion, every victory comes wrapped in narrative. The subtle nod toward Scotland during his press conference was more than just a throwaway remark it was a calculated move. Mourinho has always understood the power of planting seeds in public. By mentioning his openness to a Scottish adventure, he knew full well the message would travel across Europe, reaching not only Rangers fans but also those in the Celtic camp, reminding them of the night he spoiled their European dream two decades ago.
Even now, at 62 years old, Mourinho remains the master of controlling the conversation around him. He may be fully focused on Fenerbahçe and his team’s performance on Thursday suggested just that but with his words, he ensures that his name stays relevant far beyond Turkey’s borders. Whether it’s intentional or not, Mourinho’s ability to keep future doors open, without ever fully committing to walking through them, remains one of his greatest strengths.
For now, Rangers and Fenerbahçe will do battle again at Ibrox, and Mourinho will return to doing what he does best winning key games in Europe. But don’t be surprised if, when the dust settles, and Mourinho’s chapter in Istanbul eventually closes, the phone rings from Glasgow. Whether it’s Rangers or Celtic, the Special One’s fascination with Scottish passion is no fleeting comment. It’s a glimpse into a future that, if the timing is right, could see Mourinho bring his unique brand of theatre, controversy, and success to the most passionate football city in Britain.
In the short term, Fenerbahçe will hope Mourinho’s passion remains focused on them but in football, and especially in Mourinho’s world, you can never say never.
Updated: 03:59, 5 Mar 2025
