Will Mourinho still be at Madrid at the end of the season?

Real Madrid are well known for their lack of patience when it comes to managers. Fabio Capello and Bernd Schuster were sacked after both winning La Liga. Vicente Del Bosque was sent packing after winning two Champions League trophies and two Spanish titles in just four years (he has since guided Spain to World Cup glory). Madrid's managers not only have to win trophies but they have to do so with a certain panache. Real Madrid the football club epitomises an instant gratification society, where the club's hunger for success demands instant results, and when this doesn't happen one person is to blame: the manager. Jose Mourinho has been widely criticised for his actions and accusations during Madrid's Champions League encounter with Barcelona. So with that in mind, if the trigger happy Madrid President, Florentino Perez, lives up to his ruthless nature then Mourinho's days could be numbered.

Although no one can doubt Mourinho's credentials as a manager, his style of football is not always the most attractive. He has been labelled cautious, defensive, anti-football, the evil genius and so on. High profile names linked with the club have expressed their anger at Mourinho's philosophy and criticised his temperament, for example the club's former president, Ramon Calderón, has accused the 48-year-old of ‘harming' the club. There have also been reports of an icy relationship with Mourinho and Perez and Jorge Valdano. Everyone seemingly has an opinion when it comes to Jose Mourinho.

Despite the fierce criticism Mourinho has faced, he has in fact brought silverware to the club in his first season (in the form of the Copa del Rey) and he has also taken the club through to a Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2003. The major problem Mourinho faces is that Madrid are simply not in the same category as Barcelona. But then no club is. Barcelona are widely regarded as one of the best teams of all time and have the trophy cabinet and exquisite style of football to back it up. Although it is more than likely that Mourinho will be given another year to bridge the gap between Madrid and Barcelona, his odds to leave at the end of the summer have been slashed. Victor Chandler now have Mourinho available at 2/1 to not be in charge of Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Since Mourinho announced back in March that it was his ‘destiny' to return to English football - newspapers, journalists, fans and anyone with an opinion on football began chatting voraciously about what club he would choose. Following the manner of Madrid's Champions League departure, these rumours have heightened and it is being speculated that the Portuguese manager will now leave a season earlier than expected. If the hype has any validity then he may in fact have difficulty persuading England's top clubs to opt for his services. Although his former club Chelsea are currently the favourites to land him, it appears that Carlo Ancelotti's late season surge has saved his skin. Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to leave Manchester United even if he does win the European and domestic double. Manchester City's owners look to be sticking with Roberto Mancini as the Italian has effectively guided them to the Champions League. Kenny Dalglish is more than certainly staying at Liverpool and Harry Redknapp at Tottenham.

At 12/1 Mourinho to Arsenal may well be worth a punt. It has now been six years since Arsene Wenger brought silverware to the club, and although Wenger is more than likely to stay at Arsenal, he could be tempted by a lucrative contract from Madrid. The Spanish club are known admirers of Wenger's attacking philosophy and if they do in fact sack Mourinho, don't rule out Wenger and Mourinho switching clubs. What is certain is that wherever Mourinho does end up, the club is guaranteed a rollercoaster ride.

Jose Mourinho Next English Club To Manage Odds

• 4/6 – Chelsea


• 4/7 – Manchester United


• 2/1 – Manchester City


• 10/1 – Liverpool


• 12/1 – Arsenal


• 14/1 – Tottenham


• 16/1 – Any Other