A close confidant and trusted colleague of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho could be headed to the Arabian Gulf League, with Ricardo Formosinho eager to work once more in the Middle East.
Formosinho, 58, was assistant coach to Mourinho when his Porto side shocked Europe by winning the 2003-04 UEFA Champions League. The pair have enjoyed a long link, living in the same Portuguese city of Setubal and going through the UEFA Pro Licence course together.
This connection also saw him form part of Mourinho’s scouting team at Real Madrid.
Formasinho has enjoyed a lengthy and diverse coaching career on his own, however, including a spell with Saudi Professional League outfit Al Khaleej during 2007. He is excited about utilising this experience in future in the UAE.
“My time in Saudi Arabia was a great experience, my first abroad,” Formasinho said. “It was a very rewarding time for me.
“I have had offers to return to Saudi or go to Iran recently, but the timing was not right. Now, I am ready for another challenge and the Arabian Gulf League is a very attractive league.
“There are good players there, who are developing all the time. The clubs have a very good base to work from – many coaches want to be there.”
Formosinho featured as a midfielder in Portugal’s top two divisions, before accepting a player-coach post at SC Olhanense aged just 34.
He enjoyed other positions in his native country before sweeping to Champions League, Primeira Liga and Supertaca de Portugal success under Mourinho at Porto a decade ago. Jobs in Portugal and several adventures abroad followed, his last spell as head coach with Angola’s Recreativo Caala ending in July 2013.
Underpinning these experiences are the lessons learned in continued dialogue with Mourinho, the pair reuniting last Tuesday for Chelsea’s Champions League group-stage victory at Sporting Lisbon.
Formasinho said: “We are good friends who have known each other for a long time. Jose is a very good man and an excellent professional.
“He is a real leader. His methods and philosophy are very good.
“I have learnt many things working with him and knowing him. We talk together about tactics and exchange ideas – this is something many coaches do.”
