Audio By Carbonatix
A brief history of the career of Jose Mourinho, 56, who was named as Tottenham Hotspur manager on Wednesday:
The translator
After an undistinguished playing career in Portugal and a spell as a PE teacher, Mourinho worked as an interpreter for former England manager Bobby Robson at Portugal's Sporting CP and then Porto, where they enjoyed huge success before moving to Barcelona in 1996. Robson lasted only one season at the helm of the Spanish giants but Mourinho remained as assistant to Dutchman Louis van Gaal, before securing the manager's role at Benfica in 2000.
The European Cup-winner
Short spells at Benfica and Leiria were followed by a move to Porto in early 2002, where he won the Uefa Cup, Portuguese league and Portuguese cup in his first full season, with future stars such as Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Vitor Baia. An even greater success was to come the following year when Porto were the shock winners of European club football's biggest prize, the Uefa Champions League, beating Monaco 3-0 in the May 2004 final after eliminating Manchester United, Lyon and Deportivo La Coruna along the way.
The Special One
Chelsea, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, immediately came knocking and Mourinho was unveiled to great fanfare in June 2004, memorably describing himself as "The Special One" to assembled media. It was not an idle boast: Chelsea won the next two editions of the Premier League, and added one FA Cup and two League Cup titles in a successful first stint at the London club. Mourinho's meticulous attention to detail, hitherto unknown in the English game, and attritional, pressing style cut a swathe through English football. But relations with Abramovich soured and Mourinho departed early in the 2007/08 season.
The Italian job
Mourinho joined Italy's Inter Milan for 2008/09 where his legend grew with two Scudettos in his first two seasons plus his second Champions League title in May 2010, beating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final. At the time Mourinho, who clinched the Italian treble that year, was only the fourth manager to win the European title with two different clubs.
The Real deal
Despite his success Mourinho immediately departed for Real Madrid, a dream move for a manager, but his return to Spain proved ill-fated. Real won the Spanish Cup in Mourinho's first season in charge, but arch-rivals Barcelona beat them to the La Liga title and knocked them out in the Champions League semifinals. The following year, Real won La Liga but again fell in the Champions League semifinals. Mourinho's tenure unravelled in the third season as he feuded with players including Cristiano Ronaldo, the media and officials, and poked Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye during a mass brawl. He departed at the end of the 2013 season.
The second coming
After being snubbed by Manchester United, who chose David Moyes to replace the retiring Alex Ferguson, Mourinho rekindled his affair with Chelsea in 2013. Chelsea won the Premier League title and the League Cup for a domestic double in 2014/15, but with enthusiasm dwindling for Mourinho's defence-minded football, passions cooled and he left in December 2015.
The Manchester hotel
Manchester United, struggling to find a viable replacement for Ferguson, turned to Mourinho in 2016 but the long-awaited match was not a happy one. Mourinho, lacking the charisma of earlier incarnations, and choosing to live fulltime in a hotel, won the Europa League and League Cup in a promising first season. But as relations with the media deteriorated, and fans grew unhappy with United's style of play, Mourinho was unceremoniously sacked in December 2018.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Bribery scandal rocks NDC Ayawaso East primary as IMANI President demands total annulment
2 hours -
Pollster Mussa Dankwah reacts as Baba Jamal defies projections in NDC Ayawaso East Primary
2 hours -
Government to roll out Free Primary Healthcare in the first week of April
3 hours -
The price of inaction: Why we must invest now to end FGM in West, Central Africa
4 hours -
Mahama recalls High Commissioner to Nigeria Baba Jamal over vote-buying allegations
5 hours -
VALCO not for sale; government pursuing strategic partnership to revive smelter – GIADEC CEO
5 hours -
GIADEC boss warns of job losses as government turns to partnerships to save VALCO
6 hours -
Baba Jamal expresses gratitude, calls for unity after securing Ayawaso East NDC slot
6 hours -
Ayawaso East Primary: TV “gifts” not meant to influence votes – Baba Jamal
7 hours -
Ayawaso East: I’ve been giving gifts this week – Baba Jamal admits giving out TV sets
8 hours -
Baba Jamal wins NDC Ayawaso East Primaries
8 hours -
NDC Ayawaso East primary: Baba Jamal expresses confidence after voting
8 hours -
Mahama approves operating licence for UMaT mining initiative
8 hours -
NDC condemns vote-buying in Ayawaso East primaries, launches investigation
9 hours -
Ayawaso East NDC primary: Sorting and counting underway after voting ends
9 hours
