France head coach: Ex-Tottenham boss ‘in running’ after Deschamps bombshell
France will need to replace head coach Didier Deschamps after World Cup 2026 and former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is now in the running, according to the bookmakers.
The Frenchman has announced his decision to step down from his role with the national team once the tournament, being held across the USA, Canada and Mexico, is finished, with the esteemed coach being named in the running.
Mourinho, who is currently managing Fenerbahce four years after his stint in North London, has been placed at 10/1 by BetVictor to be Deschamp’s successor on the international stage.
This would be a new journey for the 61-year-old, who has managed the likes of Spurs, Porto, AS Roma, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, but has never switched to national teams.
Jose Mourinho enters running for France job five years after Tottenham exit
It is difficult to see Mourinho leading a national team after World Cup 2026, but with the Portuguese now in the running, there is clearly substance to the odds.
With 19 wins from his first 31 matches in charge at Fenerbahce, he boasts a 61 per cent win record in Turkey, but he has not seen success at every club he’s managed, as Spurs fans will know.
His time in North London was hugely controversial, only lasting 17 months in charge before being replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo, who was an even worse appointment in many supporters’ eyes.
Many people still respect Mourinho after his time at Hotspur Way so they might be wishing him well if he does decide to succeed Deschamp for the national team job, but it is massively unlikely to happen.
Zinedine Zidane is by far the favourite to land the job, being priced at 6/4, while Gareth Southgate and Pep Guardiola have been named in the running.
It would be hugely entertaining to see Mourinho lead France into a major tournament, such as Euro 2028, but with that being years away, it could be another few years until football fans see that come true.
In other Tottenham news, Arsenal-mad Mo Farah has predicted a shock scoreline v Leicester City.
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