Where does he go from here: Assessing Mourinho's options after Chelsea sacking

Jose Mourinho never stays at a club for too long. He lasted just 2 1/2 years in his second stint as Chelsea manager, only three years at Real Madrid and two at Inter Milan.

Many of his former players swear by Mourinho. Marco Materazzi cried as the two embraced in their final moments together with Inter in a bus terminal, and Wesley Sneijder once declared he would "kill and die" for the Portuguese manager.

Frank Lampard and John Terry have always supported Mourinho, and won several trophies together.

But his lifespan in professional football can only come in short bursts. His divisive nature and negative tactics always seem to cause a breakdown at the club, and once glorious times turn toxic fast.

He will not stay out of work for too long. He is only 52, nowhere near retirement, and is reportedly set to forfeit the majority of the £30 million left on his four-year contract with the London club.

Here are three potential destinations:

Manchester United

Mourinho came close to the Manchester United job following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. The two would enjoy a glass of wine after every encounter between their two sides.

Mourinho reportedly broke down in tears when David Moyes had instead been award the position, Spanish journalist Diego Torres wrote in his book, Prepare to Lose: The Mourinho Era.

Mourinho's adviser denied the account, but it seemed to hint at his desire to follow in the footsteps of Ferguson, whom the Portuguese would call "boss."

So it is not a surprise that Mourinho has become the bookmakers' favourite to replace Louis van Gaal as the Red Devils' gaffer.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG sounded out Mourinho in 2011 and 2013, and twice he turned down the offer from the club's Qatari owners. They flew him to Qatar to tempt him with their plans - "I know the PSG project well," he said in February - but he cited bad timing as the reason why he rejected the move to Paris.

Next season could be his chance, especially if PSG fails to win the Champions League this year. That is the only remaining goal for the club, which now dominates Ligue 1. PSG could decide to part ways with Laurent Blanc for Mourinho, a manager who has won Europe's top prize twice before and understands the necessary sacrifices to go far in the competition.

Portugal

Mourinho has suggested that he could take the job as the manager of an international side, but only towards the end of his career. His native Portugal would supersede all other countries, and he could inject a lot of hope into the Selecao ahead of Euro 2016.

He could've even taken the England job in 2007, after his first Chelsea sacking. His wife told him not to take it, and "she was right."

He added: "It was not the job for me seven years ago, it's not the job for me now and I don’t think it will be the job for me in seven years' time. Maybe in 15 years from now but not seven."

Portugal is likely in the far future, but it is probably his most inevitable destination.