Jose Mourinho attends Brighton vs Middlesbrough game after losing his job

Mourinho say alongside a friend at the Amex Stadium

Just two days after losing his job as Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho returned to football as he watched his former assistant Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough side at Brighton.

The Championship top two kick-off at 12:30pm at the Seagull's Amex Stadium and the 52-year-old was watching on from the stands.

Portuguese boss Mourinho was given the axe from Chelsea on Thursday after a poor run of form which saw the champions 20 points off table-topping Leicester.

He was given the sack after admitting that the Blues were resigned to missing out on the top four.

But just hours after his agency CAA released a statement to say that Mourinho, who is actively searching for his next job in football, would not attend any "high-profile" matches, he took his spot in the stands at Brighton.

Boro boss Karanka was Mourinho's No.2 at Real Madrid during his stint in charge at the Bernabeu between 2010 and 2013.

The pair claimed a La Liga title and Copa del Rey crown together, before Mourinho's abrupt exit from the club.

Both men ended up in England, with Mourinho returning for his second spell in charge of Chelsea and Karanka taking over a Premier League hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Karanka has led Boro to the top of the Championship this season after missing out on promotion in the play-off final last campaign.

Speaking of Karanka earlier this year, Mourinho said: "As an assistant he was humble, honest, loyal and part of my staff with his soul and his heart. I don’t know what he’s like as a manager but maybe he brought these human qualities with him.

"He certainly knows he needs to work hard every day, And especially he knows that in England.

"Whether it’s the Premier League or the Championship, the difference between success or not is just a matter of inches."