Portsmouth manager John Mousinho
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho

John Mousinho backed to take Premier League job by former Portsmouth star

Dan Godfrey

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

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Former Portsmouth winger Josh Martin has backed John Mousinho to manage in the Premier League at some point in the future.

Martin spent six months at Fratton Park last season, making eight League One appearances, enough to earn him a winners' medal.

Mousinho succeeded where several before him failed in the mission to return Pompey to the Championship.

Speaking to The News [20 September], 23-year-old Martin said: "I told John last season he can go all the way to the top, and this season will be an indicator of whether that is soon or within the next two to three years.

"He can be a top manager, it’s how I feel. I’ve worked with a few, I worked with Daniel Farke for years and played against certain managers and seen them on the touchline. John is like that.

"If we were knocking on his door, he would give us the most honest answer possible. Also, he was a player until two years ago, so still has that changing room feeling. It is so fresh for him, so he understands the players."

Portsmouth have to keep hold of John Mousinho

Portsmouth have endured the trickiest task possible with the early fixtures thrown at them, and as a result still hunt their first win while simultaneously picking up a couple of decent results.

Should there be an up-turn in form and Mousinho's fortunes at the club, potential outside suitors could resurface as they did when he steered the club out of the third tier.

At some time or another, the Blues' resolve will be tested - Mousinho is in his first management role while still south of 40 and has a wholly impressive CV within that timeframe.

John Mousinho, Portsmouth
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho (Credit: Imago)

You only have to look at Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, who himself was managing in League One as recently as May 2023 and over the summer was hunted by Chelsea and linked with Manchester United.

Martin's assumption could well be an accurate one in years to come, and while it is a view shared by many, Pompey could really do with their gaffer sticking around for a fair while yet.

In other Portsmouth news, team news ahead of the visit to Burnley.

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