Jose Mourinho’s possible departure from Real Madrid at the end of the season would leave club president Florentino Perez in a tricky position as he seeks an adequate replacement for the man he has constantly lauded as “the best coach in the world”.

Obsessed with winning the 10th continental crown that has eluded Real since 2002, construction magnate Perez hired the controversial Portuguese at great expense in 2010 after he led Inter to the Champions League title.

After Tuesday’s elimination from Europe’s elite club competition by Borussia Dortmund, when Real narrowly failed to overturn a 4-1 deficit in their semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu, Mourinho dropped his strongest hint yet that his time in the Spanish capital is drawing to a close.

Asked after the game if he would stay on next term – he has a contract until 2016 – Mourinho said: “Maybe not. I don’t know but I want to be where people love me to be.”

At a later news conference he added: “I am loved by some clubs, especially one (Chelsea). In Spain it is different, some people hate me, many of you in this (press) room.”

Mourinho’s reference to Chelsea appeared to give credence to recent reports saying he is poised to return to the London club where he won Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 but came up short in the Champions League.

If he does leave Real at the end of the season, he will have led them to one La Liga title and, if they beat Atletico Madrid in this month’s final, two King’s Cups.

It is a decent record by most standards but at Real it is success in Europe that counts above all else and on that score he has disappointed, suffering elimination in the Champions League semi-finals for the past three seasons.

If he does decide to jump ship his successor may be taking on a poisoned chalice, while Mourinho’s stint at Real will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Those included sneaking up behind Tito Vilanova, then assistant Barca coach, during a brawl and poking a finger in his eye, complaints about refereeing bias and dark hints that Barca get favourable treatment from UEFA.

He has also sidelined club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, a hero to many supporters.

Some reports in Spain have suggested Perez is lining up Carlo Ancelotti, another former Chelsea manager currently in charge at PSG, to replace Mourinho.

The Italian is a very different personality to the outspoken Mourinho and won the UEFA Champions League with Milan in 2003 and 2007, losing to Liverpool in the 2005 final.

After the clashes and controversy of the Mourinho years, perhaps the understated and respectful Ancelotti is just what Real need to restore calm and finally get their hands on the “decima”, or 10th European title.

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