So it turns out that Jose Mourinho is a brilliant pundit. Perhaps, in retrospect, this should have been no surprise. A love of the camera, a self-regard bordering on the messianic, a lust for petty conflict, a barely-concealed disgust for every single other person in the room: these may be the same qualities that have brought his coaching career to an unexpected halt, but transpose them into the studio and the results rarely fall short of spectacular.

Watching Mourinho in his semi-regular appearances on Sky Sports this season, you’re struck by two things. First, the sheer magnetism of the oratory. Mourinho may not be to everyone’s taste as a manager, but he’s a genuinely gifted speaker: the tone, the cadence, the way he pauses for just a second to string along the viewer when he wants to make some important, life-affirming point. It’s the same quality that great politicians or preachers possess: “let freedom ring”; “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”; “Lacazette, for me, doesn’t have that quality”.

But perhaps the biggest revelation of all is the sheer gulf in understanding. This is only really apparent when you set Mourinho alongside someone like Graeme Souness (last managerial job: 2006) or Jamie Redknapp (team captain, A League Of Their Own). The elite manager grasps football at a level so far beyond our own that it actually requires a master communicator like Mourinho to bridge the gap between the two. “One thing is the tactical system, one thing is principles of play,” Mourinho explains, before explaining the intricate differences between non-negotiable defensive maxims and an opponent-specific plan. Meanwhile, Souness asserts: “You’ve got to be putting the ball in the net.” To all purposes, they may as well be talking different languages.

And so a glittering and garlanded broadcasting career appears to await Mourinho, if only he wanted it. Alas, all the early indications suggest that Mourinho sees television as merely an adjunct to the wider vision: rehabilitating himself ahead of a return to big-club management. Already, Real Madrid’s indifferent start to the season has set tongues wagging. Florentino Perez is known to be an admirer. Zinedine Zidane is struggling to win over the dressing room. Oh, no. Oh, god. Are we really - I mean, really - going to do this all over again?

As Marx almost put it, history repeats itself once as tragedy, twice as farce, and three times as an immaculately choreographed press event in Madrid for the new football website Livescore. On stage with Samuel Eto’o and La Liga president Javier Tebas, Mourinho made his pitch. “Real Madrid was my best experience because of what I learned as a coach, as a man,” he purred. “It was the best memory of my career. It was fantastic.”

Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Show all 34 1 /34 Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Sporting Lisbon, Porto & Barcelona Jose Mourinho began his career in football as an interpreter to Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon in 1992. His role developed into a coaching role with they both moved to Porto a year later. They won several leagues and cups during their time before moving to Barcelona in 1996 (pictured above together with the at the European Cup Winners Cup at the 1997 final) Rex Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Barcelona Barcelona manager Bobby Robson poses for a team picture with his players and assistant coach Jose Mourinho at the Nou Camp in 1996 Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Benfica & União de Leiria Mourinho made the jump from coaching staff to manager with a short spell at Benfica in 2000 and then União de Leiria in 2001, where he caught the eye of the higher positioned clubs for an eight-match unbeaten run which left the club one point above Porto and just one behind previous club Benfica Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Porto He joined Porto in January of 2002 with the club in fifth position and finished the season in third with the promise of making them champions the following season. He came good with his promise in 2003, after identifying a backbone to his squad, high pressing and bringing in a more scientific approach, Porto won the league 11 points ahead of Benfica. The next season Mourinho's side secured the title five weeks before the end of the season and picked up the biggest prize in Europe, the Champions League Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - first season In 2004 Jose signed a three-year contract at Chelsea and declared himself 'The Special One' Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - first season Mourinho's first trophy at the club was the league cup, beating Liverpool 3-1 after extra time. He was escorted off the pitch for his response to Liverpool fans by putting his finger to his mouth PA Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - first season A big moment in Jose's first season at Chelsea saw them knock out Barcelona in the round of 16 with a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, after a 1-2 loss at the Nou Camp Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - first season A controversial decision relating to a goal in their Champions League game against Liverpool saw them knocked out at the semi-final stage AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - first season In his first season at Chelsea Mourinho won the league, securing their first title in 50 years. The side set several records including the fewest goals conceded, just 15 PA Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - second season Mourinho strengthened the Chelsea squad with further signings like Michael Essien in the summer of 2005 AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - second season Mourinho won his second title with Chelsea in his second season, securing back-to-back titles after beating Manchester United 3-0 at the Bridge Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - second season He threw his medal into the crowd after the presentation, as well as, his replacement medal in 2006 AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - third season Reports of a strained relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich indicated he may leave the club. The signing of Andryi Shevchenko lead to further problems when the chairman insisted on Jose playing him AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - third season Despite the growing tension between Mourinho and Abramovich, Chelsea won the league cup once again, beating Arsenal 2-1 in Cardiff in 2007 AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - third season However Chelsea were once again knocked out to Liverpool in the Champions League at the semi-final stage and hopes of winning the league were over when they drew with Arsenal. Mourinho indicated to the fans to keep their chins up AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - third season Jose completed the domestic cup double with a win over Manchester United in the first FA Cup played at Wembley. It was his first time winning it and meant he won every domestic trophy available to a Premier League manager Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - fourth season A slow start to his fourth season added to the troubling relationship between manager and board. A draw with Rosenborg in the Champions League group stage was Mourinho's last match in charge Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - fourth season He left Chelsea by mutual consent on 20 September 2007 as the club's most successful manager in their history AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - fourth season Fans soon protested the board's decision on the day of his departure outside Stamford Bridge AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Inter Milan - first season Jose joined Inter Milan in June 2008 after replacing Roberto Mancini. His backroom staff from Chelsea and Porto also joined him AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Inter Milan - first season Mourinho promoted 18-year-old Italian striker Mario Balotelli after UEFA began pushing for more homegrown players. In his first season with the club Jose won the Supercoppa Italia and league by ten points however lost in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Manchester United. Some fans were disappointed he had not been able to improve on Mancini's previous achievements Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Inter Milan - second season After losing the Supercoppa, Mourinho never looked back, winning the league, Coppa Italia and Champions League (his second as a manager). They became the first Italian club to do the treble Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Real Madrid - first season The day after winning the Champions League Mourinho indicated he would be leaving for Real Madrid. Just six days later it was confirmed and he was presented as Manuel Pellegrini's replacement on 31 May 2010 AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Real Madrid - first season Mourinho watches on as Real Madrid triumph over Barcelona in the 2011 Copa del Rey final. It was the frist time that they had won the cup in 18 years Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Real Madrid - second season In the 2011/12 season, Real Madrid won La Liga for the first time in four years. With their win against Mallorca in the final game of the season, they set the record for most games won in a La Liga season (32) and improved their own record for the most goals scored (121) Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Real Madrid - third season Real Madrid won the Supercopa de España, coming back from a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the final to win 4-4 on away goals. With this, Mourinho had won every domestic title in the space of two years and became the only manager to win every domestic title in four European leagues AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Real Madrid - third season Following a loss to Athletico Madrid in the final of the 2013 Copa del Rey, Mourinho called the 2012/13 season "the worst of my career". He resigned at the end of the season AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - fifth season Mourinho returned to Chelsea for the 2013/14 season. Playing down any title hopes, he referred to it as a transitional season and Chelsea finished 3rd Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - sixth season In the 2014/15 season, Chelsea won their third Premier League title under Mourinho, losing only 3 games in the season AFP/Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Chelsea - seventh season Mourinho parted with Chelsea on 17 December 2015, having lost 9 of the 16 matches so far in the season. The club stated that he left "on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea" Getty Images Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Manchester United - first season Mourinho signed a 3 year contract with Manchester United in May 2016. In August, they beat Leicester for the Community Shield Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Manchester United - first season United won the Europa league in 2017 with a 2-0 win over AFC Ajax Getty Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Manchester United - third season The 2018/19 season started badly, with United losing 2 of their first 3 league games for the first time in 26 years. In a press conference following a 3-0 home loss agaisnt Tottenham, Mourinho got annoyed and noted that 3 is also the number of Premier League titles that he has won (pictured) Sky Sports Jose Mourinho – career in pictures Manchester United - third season After just 7 wins in the first 17 games, Mourinho was sacked by United amid rumours that he had lost control of his players Reuters

Naturally, this would probably come as something of a surprise to those who were in the Madrid dressing room during Mourinho’s toxic final season at the Bernabeu, during which he failed to win a trophy, irrevocably fell out with senior players and became obsessed with traitors and leaks. “This is the worst season of my career,” Mourinho admitted at the time. But then, time and distance mellow us all. The real quiz, as any half-decent communicator will tell you, is not what you say, but the sincerity with which you say it.

And so over recent weeks, Mourinho has been dutifully doing his media rounds, making sure that when the right job comes up, he’s ready. There he is, on Joe.co.uk, talking about his love of Peaky Blinders and Brian Clough and how he once met Al Pacino in Los Angeles (who, Mourinho cunningly reveals, knew who he was). There he is, on Cameroon radio, about how Samuel Eto’o should have won the Ballon d’Or. There he is, on stage with Eto’o, revealing that he still shares a WhatsApp group with the Inter Milan squad that won the Champions League in 2010: a friend first, a boss second, a painfully reactive 4-5-1 manager third.

The subtext of all this is unmistakable. Mourinho, like every out-of-work manager, knows that when the next job comes along, it won’t be at a model club with a functional structure. It’ll be at a fallen giant with tarnished pride and an ego to match his own. And so, who better to restore them to primacy? Do you think Al Pacino has the faintest idea who Mauricio Pochettino or Max Allegri is? Of course not. Only Jose fits the bill, and at the sort of club where eyeballs are as important as trophies, Mourinho’s broad, pendulous celebrity may just get him through the door.

Perhaps there’s a wider parable here. All over the world, societies are turning to the strongman in search of an answer to their problems. And as a child of Portugal’s fascist dictatorship, Mourinho has always valued basic manliness as the fount of order, and sold his own skills on that basis. To adapt that well-known Michael Rosen poem, Jose Mourinho arrives as your friend. He will restore your honour, make you feel proud, remind you of how great you once were, clean out the venal and corrupt. Only later do you realise that he also brings with him a deep paranoia, a low block, needless feuds, ritualistic bloodletting.