Jose Mourinho is to host a football show on Russia Today providing coverage of the Champions League.

The role marks a return to Russian television for the former Manchester United manager, who worked with the Moscow-based network during last summer's World Cup in the country.

Called 'On the touchline with Jose Mourinho', the fortnightly show will start on March 7.

Mourinho filmed a promotional advert for the new show when he paid a recent visit to Russia, where he attended an ice hockey game.

"I'm going to talk about football on RT, what else did you think I was going to do?" Mourinho told www.rt.com after teasing viewers with the idea he might be open to a switch in sports.

The Russia Today website added: "The show will offer unique analysis from the Portuguese managerial great on all the week's Champions League action, as well as special insight into the biggest talking points in the world of football."

The opening show will be broadcast after the first set of Champions League last 16 second-leg matches have been concluded, and Mourinho will continue his role with Russia Today until the June 1 final.

Mourinho guided United through the competition's group stages before being sacked in December amid reports of player unrest.

The 56-year-old was replaced by interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has since won 10 and drawn one of his 11 games in charge.

Mourinho worked as a pundit on the Qatari-based TV station beIN SPORTS last month when he rejected criticism of his two-and-a-half-year record as United manager, saying people did not know what went on "behind the scenes".

Online Editors