Steve Bruce leaves position as Newcastle head coach
Jose Mourinho has distanced himself from the vacant manager’s role at Newcastle United and insists he is committed to seeing out his contract at AS Roma after being linked with the job. The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss had been reportedly lined up as one of several coaches on the shortlist to replace Steve Bruce.
The Magpies are searching for a new boss after confirming Bruce’s departure on Wednesday after more than two years at the helm.
Bruce, 60, was allowed to take charge of the 3-2 defeat for Tottenham — his 1,000th game in management — despite speculation that the club’s new owners were looking at alternative options.
But a statement released by the board confirmed Bruce had left by “mutual consent”, announcing a replacement would be appointed “in due course”.
The statement read: ”Newcastle United Football Club would like to place on record its gratitude to Steve for his contribution and wishes him well for the future”.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) completed their £305million takeover on October 7, with the consortium’s estimated wealth of £320bn making Newcastle the richest club in football.
Jose Mourinho: The Portuguese tactician is staying at AS Roma (Image: Getty Images/AS Roma)
With a seemingly unlimited budget aside from Financial Fair Play rules, it appeared likely that their next managerial appointment would be to secure a big name,
Antonio Conte, Steven Gerrard and Zinedine Zidane are just some of the names linked with the post.
Mourinho had also seen his name thrown into the hat, having last managed in England in February 2021 before his ruthless sacking by Spurs.
The Portuguese has since taken over as head coach at AS Roma after his appointment in July, with the 59-year-old signing a three-year deal.
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Mourinho, who recently spoke about how he has been enjoying life in the Italian capital, was thought to have been tempted by Newcastle’s project.
He has consistently praised Newcastle as an institution in the past and admitted he holds a “connection” with the club when addressing the speculation last week.
He said: “I worked with Mr [Bobby] Robson [at Barcelona ], one of the greatest in the history of the club, and I have always had a connection with those people and that city that I know well by now.
But Mourinho’s refusal to enter the running for the job at St James’ Park could put his predecessor at Roma, Paulo Fonseca, in the driving seat.
Steve Bruce: Newcastle sacked the 60-year-old on October 20 (Image: Getty Images)
The Portuguese, who previously managed Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting Braga and FC Porto before arriving at Roma in 2019, is currently the bookmakers’ favourite to take the job.
Eddie Howe, Lucien Favre and Belgium national team boss Roberto Martinez are also thought to be have been considered for the vacancy.
Newcastle director Amanda Staveley, who has been the face of the club’s day-to-day operations, will be hoping to install a new manager in the near future.
Bruce’s former assistant Graeme Jones will take temporary charge for the next fixture against Crystal Palace on Saturday.