The rise of Mourinho, from translator to the special one

The rise of the "Special One"

 

Jose Mourinho was never a top level player, however he loved the game and studied it religiously. When a great English manager in Bobby Robson came to Lisbon, he called on a young Mourinho to help communicate to the players.

Robson and Mourinho's styles complemented each other: the Englishman favoured an attacking style, while Mourinho covered defensive options, and the Portuguese's love of planning and training combined with Robson's direct man-management produced a fruitful partnership which took them from Lisbon, to Porto and then to the Camp Nou where they won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1997.

Mourinho stayed and worked under new manager Louis Van Gaal, however he found this draining and demotivating and decided that he would go into management himself. It was Benfica who would give him a chance at management and although filled with controversy, it gave Mourinho his first taste of the big seat.

After losing his job at Benfica he settled for a job with Uniao de Leiria before getting his desired move to Porto. He took a side demotivated and lacking ambition to two league titles, the Portuguese cup, a Uefa Cup and the biggest achievement of his young career, the Champions League in 2004.

We all know what happened after that, the “Special one” arriving in London promising to win the league. He duly did. Back to back titles showed the world that his coach was the real deal, especially as Chelsea had not won the league for fifty years previously. Mourinho was not able to win the Champions League for Chelsea however, some close and often controversial semi finals restricted him of his achievement, and under controversy he left the Bridge. 

Regardless of Roman’s billions, Mourinho had shown that he could create a winning side; his ability to build relationships with his team created a strength which perhaps only Ferguson has been able to manifest in England. Even now, his players keep in contact, an indication that one of the most important parts of management is being able to build relationships and gain respect.

Italy beckoned next, he inherited an Inter team who had done well domestically yet had struggled on the European stage. They required the man who was now regarded as one of the best in world football and with a pedigree for European success.

Back to back league titles, and a Coppa Italia continued his tradition of success, meaning he now had won the league in three different countries.

In his second season he made some adjustments; in came Sneijder, Eto’o, Milito, Pandev, Motta and Lucio, out went Ibrahimovic, Vieria and Adriano. Inter went on to win the top European honour which had eluded them since 1965, against all odds, he delivered again. He became one of only three managers to win the European Cup with two different sides. 

Mourinho's speciality

It is Mourinho’s excellence in convincing players to trust his system which makes him one of the greats. An example of Mourinho’s greatness would be how he convinced a player like Eto’o to play as a winger in a 4-5-1 formation; requiring him to defend as well as attack.

Mourinho is pragmatic, not trying to emulate any other side but studying the game and players at his disposal and producing a side capable of winning. This is an art that not many can replicate. His success at Porto, Inter and Chelsea show that he can take a side and against the odds and build a winning team. His infatuating arrogance and belief in himself has allowed him to manage some of the biggest sides in world football, and so his arrival at Real  Madrid was not a surprise.

Jose and Pep, reunited

Mourinho was rumoured to be interested in the role at Real Madrid during that final year at Inter. Barcelona's rise in world football had required Madrid to find a manager capable of competing with them. Winning the Champions League at the Berabeau was his coronation to the Madrid fans. 

Yet it was the semi final against Barcelona which was his most significant accomplishment of that season. Barcelona were current Champions League winners and were being acclaimed as perhaps the best side in the history of football. 

It would pit Mourinho against the man who he once coached when assistant at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola. They had met already in the group stages, drawing at the San Siro and losing 2-0 at the Camp Nou, yet this was serious now. Barca’s poor performance at the San Siro has been put down to the ash cloud which prevented air travel, meaning a twenty-four hour coach journey; yet whether fatigue or a tactical masterclass, Inter won 3-1. 

It was at the Camp Nou where Mourinho gave a lesson in tactics and taught teams how to defend. Down to ten men after just half an hour, they did not have a single shot in the whole game, instead they simply asked Barcelona to break them down. Barca could not get the required two goals and Mourinho’s celebrations at the final whistle would begin what was to become a hatred between Mourinho and the Camp Nou, cementing Mourinho as enemy number one.

How fitting then, that he would be the man required to take Madrid back above Barca. And thus what would ensue would be some of the most vociferous and toxic battles in the history of El Clasico.


Click here for the article on Jose vs Pep - who is the greatest?