Speculation will now swirl over which club appoints Mourinho next, with links to Newcastle well documented.
The 60-year-old has also been linked of late to the Brazil job, while we exclusively revealed back in October that he has already thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Gareth Southgate as England coach.
Southgate’s contract is due to expire after Euro 2024 and he is widely expected to step down regardless of how England – currently second favourites to win the competition behind France – fare.
Now he has left Roma, those rumours will only gather pace with all the cards seeming to fall in line.
In addition, Mourinho is also being strongly linked with a return to Porto, the club where he made his name and led them to Champions League glory way back in 2004 and a success that led to his appointment by Chelsea.
However, the strongest rumours of all see Mourinho being tipped for a Premier League return with Newcastle.
Despite a meteroic rise underr Eddie Howe, the Magpies are struggling this season having been dumped out of the Champions League at the first hurdle and currently sitting a lowly 10th in the Premier League after suffering six losses in their last seven games.
While there are mitigating circumstances for their struggles – not least a terrible injury list – the removal of Howe as manager would certainly be an unpopular move among the Newcastle faithful as this article testifies.
Mourinho comments on Newcastle links
Nonetheless, speculation that Mourinho is being lined up to replace him will intensify in the wake of his sacking at Roma.
Asked about the rumours just last month and in wake of his links to future with Roma, Mourinho appeared to suggest he only saw a future in the Italian capital.
“I will tell you something I have not yet said, because I did not want to say it. I want to continue at Roma. I want to continue here. If I continue at Roma, we need to really think about what we can do with the FFP limitations,” he said on December 18.
“Perhaps it is better to work with young players and develop for the future rather than with some players who have nothing more to develop. I want to continue and we perhaps ought to think about it in a different way.
“I know the dimensions of this team, when everyone is available, we have sufficient quality to fight it out. We didn’t finish fourth last season because we reached a European final and were too stretched out. Without fundamental players, obviously it is difficult.”
Asked if negotiations had been with Roma yet over an extension, he added: “We have not talked about it. You are the first person I have said this to. When the fans see their team play the way we did today, there is not much to love. How many kilometres did they travel to see this team, to cheer us on for 92 minutes?
“They are special and it would be difficult to split from these fans. If I was to separate from them, it would never be my own choice. Never.”
Clearly Mourinho may well have known the writing was on the wall and it remains to be seen where the Portuguese firebrand will wind up next.
