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By LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER <\/p>\n
Published:<\/span> 22:22 BST, 8 May 2026 <\/time> <\/span> | Updated:<\/span> 22:22 BST, 8 May 2026 <\/time> <\/span> <\/p>\n
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Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is backing Jose Mourinho to return to Chelsea yet again for a third stint in charge.<\/p>\n
The Blues are on the hunt for another new boss after sacking Liam Rosenior, with a new permanent manager to be appointed at the end of the season – Calum McFarlane is taking temporary charge until then.<\/p>\n
Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso and Marco Silva have all been touted as potential options, but Cole is convinced his former boss is the right person for the job.<\/p>\n
Cole told The Sun: ‘The best move the club could make now, a realistic move as well, is to go to Jose Mourinho. Say that this is what we can do, and just let the man take charge of the club. Just say, rebuild my club for me, we’re going to step back, you get us back on track.<\/p>\n
‘Give him a long contract, and tell the players and the fans just to take the transition. Tell the fans, we’ve given you what you want. Jose is in charge of bringing the players in. Jose is in charge of everything.<\/p>\n
‘So, the fans know where they stand, and the players know where they stand as a group. And then leave it.<\/p>\n
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Former Chelsea star Joe Cole (front centre) has backed Jose Mourinho (back centre) to return to the club<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Mourinho is currently in charge of Benfica and has also been linked with a return to Real Madrid<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
‘It’s going to take a few years. But I’m pretty sure, in three years, Chelsea will be in a healthier position than they are now. Everyone’s thinking he’s finished, but there’s a reason Real Madrid are looking at him.’ <\/p>\n
Mourinho was first in charge of Chelsea between 2004 and 2007, winning two Premier League titles and the FA Cup.<\/p>\n
After stints at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid, he would return in 2013, going on to win the Premier League again before leaving in 2015. Cole, meanwhile, played for the Portuguese in his first stint in charge.<\/p>\n
Since then, he has managed the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham, while he is currently boss of Benfica, where his side are closing in on an invincible season.<\/p>\n
The 63-year-old, meanwhile, is the favoured choice of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to replace Alvaro Arbeloa in the summer.<\/p>\n
Mourinho previously managed Madrid between 2010 and 2013, leading the club to one LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. His time at the club provided numerous hard-fought battles with rivals Barcelona, who were led by Pep Guardiola.<\/p>\n
Xabi Alonso was sacked after just eight months earlier this season, with Arbeloa then promoted from his role with Real Madrid’s B-team.\u00a0Reports have claimed Real Madrid would have to pay \u00a32.6million to activate a release clause in Mourinho’s Benfica contract, which runs until the summer of 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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