Valencia hero Mario Kempes has laughed off speculation Jose Mourinho could join the club as their next manager.

The Portuguese coach was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur last week after 17 months in charge.

Despite a promising start to his time in north London, the wheels came off for Mourinho at the turn of the year as Spurs slipped out of the title race and eventually the top-four.

He was sacked less than a week before Sunday's Carabao Cup final, which Spurs eventually lost 1-0 to Manchester City.

It hasn't taken long for reports to emerge about Mourinho's next destination.

According to Spanish outlet Todo Fichajes, Valencia owner Peter Lim has spoken to Mourinho about a return to La Liga, where he managed Real Madrid between 2011 and 2013.

With the club sitting in 14th on the table, Lim is hoping Mourinho will be an improvement of current manager Javi Gracia.

But according to Kempes, one of the club's most legendary players, Mourinho is past his best as a manager.

Asked if he saw Mourinho returning to Spain, Kempes told TribalFootball.com: "(Ha-ha-ha) I don't think Mourinho has the same appeal as maybe seven to ten years ago!

"Many great managers have cycles of seven to eight to ten years at the top. When Mourinho was at Porto or Real Madrid, he was still young and motivated too and with plenty of ambition.

"He's just not the same manager now, the manager who would provoke the opposition in the old days of when he was manager at Real Madrid.

"I don't think he has lost his vision of the game but football itself changes and if a manager doesn't change his habits…I believe he gets confused by the changes."

You can purchase Mario Kempes' new autobiography, Matador, by clicking the link here.