Leeds United’s triumphant promotion back to the Premier League has been met with celebration — but also with serious boardroom conversations about the club’s future leadership. Despite the role Daniel Farke played in guiding the team up from the Championship, reports are gaining momentum that Leeds are eyeing a bold change: none other than José Mourinho. And the timing couldn’t be more intriguing.
After two previous stints in the Premier League that ended in swift relegations with Norwich City, doubts are creeping in about whether Daniel Farke can break that cycle with Leeds. While his tactical mind proved more than enough for the rigors of Championship football, the Premier League demands another level of experience, resilience, and gravitas.
Enter Mourinho — a manager whose name alone shifts the mood of a club. Although currently managing Fenerbahce in Turkey, the 62-year-old has not hidden his dissatisfaction with his latest post. His frustrations with the Turkish Super Lig’s officiating and what he describes as a “toxic” environment have been well documented.
More importantly, Mourinho has publicly hinted at wanting a simpler challenge after his turbulent years in European competitions. Speaking candidly earlier this season, he expressed a surprising openness to managing a team whose primary concern is the domestic league — without the distraction of midweek UEFA tournaments. Leeds United, freshly promoted and with no European fixtures on the calendar, fits that bill perfectly.
For a club desperate to not just survive but thrive back in the Premier League, Mourinho’s arrival would symbolize more than a tactical shift — it would signal an ambition to plant Leeds firmly among England’s elite once again.
When Mourinho left Roma at the start of 2024 and quickly took up the Fenerbahce post, few predicted how disillusioned he would become with Turkish football’s intensity and controversies. Although he initially downplayed his frustrations as mere emotional outbursts, it became clear through subsequent interviews that he’s craving a fresh start.
What raised eyebrows was his admission that he’d seriously consider a role outside the traditional top-four dogfight — even jokingly offering himself to clubs battling at the bottom of the table, provided the fit felt right. While Mourinho later softened those comments, suggesting that fighting relegation wasn’t exactly his dream scenario, it gave a rare glimpse into a version of the “Special One” more focused on building stability rather than chasing immediate silverware.
