Mourinho and Wenger on amazing collision course to work together at Lyon
LYON have invited Jose Mourinho to become their new manager - meaning he could sensationally now be set to work alongside old rival Arsene Wenger.
The Special One, 56, has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United last December, but Lyon now say they would spare no expense in hiring him as first-team boss.
Former Chelsea boss Mourinho has voiced his interest in working in a new country after managing in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.
Lyon are due to part company with coach Bruno Genesio at the end of the season - with the club planning a shake-up.
Wenger has been tipped to join as general manager to oversee the running of the club, meaning he would work above Mourinho.
The pair - who were famously locked in a bitter feud for years during their time at Chelsea and Arsenal - did recently manage to bury the hatchet.
Mourinho paid tribute to Wenger after the Frenchman won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Laureus event earlier this year.
The Special One claimed: “There were some episodes along the road. I can only speak by myself. I really enjoyed the competition. But the real respect was always there.
He is one of the best managers in the history of football.
Jose Mourinho on Arsene Wenger
“He made lots of history in that football club. The nickname is there – the Invincibles. Amazing. A coaching philosophy, the almost perfect team.
“He is one of the best managers in the history of football.”
Now it appears they could incredibly join forces to lead Lyon into the future.
Club president Jean-Michel Aulas declared his admiration for Mourinho, insisting the Ligue 1 club has ample funds to recruit him.
Aulas also said he previously wanted to hire the Portuguese boss, but failed as Mourinho was in a job - unlike now.
LYON IN WAIT
Aulas said: "I would love to get Jose Mourinho as our coach. I don't think he is too expensive, although I have not discussed his salary demands with him.
"I dreamed about recruiting him before. But sometimes you can't get what you want, as a manager is under contract with another club.
";But now we can do what we wish. We are in a phase of not only building, but also exploiting the numerous investments we have made.
"We will deny ourselves nothing if it is possible, and the manager wants to join us.
"I have a feeling that plenty of coaches want to come here."
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Mourinho is one of the world's most successful managers, winning a host of trophies with Chelsea, United, Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
But he could now be tempted to take charge of the club that won seven straight Ligue 1 titles between 2002 and 2008 before being overtaken by moneybags Paris Saint-Germain.
Whether the job would look so appealing if Wenger was there too remains to be seen.