'The Special One' Tipped for Shock Premier League Return to Save Sinking Club

Emmanuel Petit endorses Jose Mourinho for a shock Premier League return, believing he's the ideal man to save a struggling club.

France legend Emmanuel Petit has backed José Mourinho to make a dramatic return to the Premier League, suggesting he should take on the challenge of saving Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation.

The former Chelsea manager, who joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe in the summer, could be tempted by a return to the English top flight, according to Petit.

The World Cup winner believes that despite a mixed start in Turkey, the allure of a new kind of challenge at Molineux might be too good to refuse for the "Special One."

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Mourinho's Premier League Ambition

Mourinho, renowned for his trophy-laden career at clubs like Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, has never hidden his affection for English football. After two spells at Stamford Bridge and stints with Manchester United and Tottenham, he has remained open to a comeback.

In October 2024, he hinted at his future plans, stating: "The best thing I have to do is when I leave Fener is that I go to a club that doesn’t play in UEFA competition. So a club at the bottom in England who needs a coach in two years, I’m ready to go. I don’t want to speak anymore about it. I want to speak about the game."

Following these comments, Petit sees an opportunity for Mourinho at managerless Wolves, who currently sit at the foot of the Premier League table.

'A Fierce Character' for a Relegation Battle

Petit believes the unique circumstances at Wolves could appeal to Mourinho, offering a different test compared to managing title contenders. He also pointed to the manager's "fierce character" as a potential catalyst to inspire a fight for survival.

"Jose Mourinho is not having the best of starts at Fenerbahçe, but you never know with him," Petit told JeffBet as quoted by Goal.com.

"Mourinho loves the Premier League and managing a team like Wolves could be something completely different for him. He's used to teams with big players and a lot of money; trying to avoid relegation is something unexpected from Mourinho."

"Wolves are linked with many Portuguese people, and have been for years now, so it would probably suit Mourinho," he added.

"Mourinho is a fierce character and maybe Wolves need his fighting mentality to stay in the Premier League."

However, Petit warned his former Arsenal teammate Patrick Vieira and Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard against taking the job, suggesting they would be better suited to a "more stable environment."

Unyielding Authority

Highlighting Mourinho's authoritative style, Petit referenced a recent incident at Tottenham where Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence initially snubbed manager Ange Postecoglou's request to applaud the fans. Petit is convinced the players would not have dared to do so with Mourinho in charge.

"Would they have reacted like that if Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola were their manager? No," Petit said.

"These managers may have punished the players, even if they apologised. If I was their manager, I would make sure they know that I am the manager, and I won’t be disrespected like that."

What's Next for Mourinho?

While the prospect of Mourinho at Molineux is an intriguing one, any move remains highly speculative.

The 62-year-old is under contract with Fenerbahçe, where he has overseen six wins, two draws, and two losses, leaving the Turkish giants third in the league. Unless he is dismissed, a swift return to the Premier League seems unlikely for now.

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