An Ugly End to the Mourinho Era

May 21^st 2003 marks a decade since Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto defeated Celtic in the UEFA Cup final. Since then he was won two Champions League’s and the domestic league in four different countries. There is little doubt that he has being the most dominant coach of the past decade, however as his time in Madrid ends in flames, The Whitehouse Address asks is it fair to ask if the “Special One” has been left behind by the modern game?  

2013 is certainly becoming the end of an era for many coaches and players. For some their careers are being lauded and praised yet for one man, a Special One, his era at Madrid will be regarded as nothing short of a failure. In fact after a decade on top of football, Mourinho's reputation may have suffered dearly after his time in Madrid. 

After the defeat to Atletico in the Copa Del Rey Jose Mourinho described this season as "the worst of my career". It was a fitting end to his time in Madrid (yes there are two league games remaining), Mourinho was sent off for abusing the referee, the team was left frustrated by the post and keeper and the match ended in a mass brawl. His only success this season was the Spanish SuperCup. That feels a long time ago.

Last season Madrid were driven, determined and importantly together in their quest to overcome Barcelona. Their points tally was record breaking, they scored goals for fun and yet it could have been even better. They choked on penalties in the Champions League semi-final and it is not far fetched to assume that that exit was the end of the togetherness. The misses of players like Sergio Ramos left a bitter taste in the mouth of Mourinho. That was his chance to achieve what he was brought to do and once again his side fell at that penultimate hurdle.

The fallout from that defeat was evident this season. An obsession only with Europe seemed to consume Mourinho, the league appeared to mean nothing, or at least that’s how the results and performances indicated. Real were abject, lacking energy and any drive in the league. If the focus was on Europe, it was conceivable that they were ‘pacing’ themselves for that final stretch where they needed to be fresh. However it is not always so easy to simply switch it on when it matters. The performance against United was average and first leg mauling by Dortmund highlighted a team versus individuals. Mourinho's magic had worn off. 

Three semi-final exits does not constitute success, not in Madrid.

The truth was Mourinho’s influence this past year was waning, his character becoming tiresome and disruptive and the knowledge that this would be his last season was becoming less of a secret. Perhaps Mourinho had planned to prepare for March to ‘peak’ yet during those months waiting for that moment to come he decided to fight battles which were unwinnable and which would only cause division and conflict.

If this was his plan to push his move away from Madrid then he may have succeeded. His team has been a shambles throughout the season and he leaves the club in real a mess. Yes there are some world class players in this team, yet Mourinho appears intent on leaving Madrid in a shambles. His exit will be best for everyone. 

The Copa Del Rey defeat highlighted all that has been wrong with this season and Mourinho is the man to blame for it. He will leave Madrid, perhaps before the final two league games, and cannot be considered anything but a failure in Spain. His remit was to win the Champions League, on which he failed. Three semi-final exits does not constitute success, not in Madrid.

One league title in three years and one Copa Del Rey reads as minimal success for a man with such high expectations placed on himself. He spoke more of his "third" than Madrid's "10th" in interviews and you got the sense (like we didn't know already) that Mourinho cares only about Mourinho. He lacks the skills or will for building teams in the long term. This has been his downfall at Madrid. 

Overcome by an obsession

The truth is Mourinho has been somewhat ‘found out’ in Madrid. The reason is twofold. Firstly Barcelona. Yes we can consider them now a shadow of what they were a few years ago yet when Mourinho arrived at the Bernabeau he encountered the strongest and most dominant team of their era. That 5-0 will be remembered as one of the greatest performances ever witnessed and the consequences of that match would have significant repercussions for Mourinho’s time in Madrid. 

His approach to playing them changed dramatically after that defeat and instead of making slight tactical changes to his team, he effectively admitted that his side was inferior to this great Barca team and that the only way to defeat them was to play the most defensive, negative and manipulative tactics imaginable. If only he had developed a style more like that of Dortmund and Bayern then he could have overcome Barca with more success and perhaps lifted that European Cup in Madrid. Yet is Mourinho an innovator? Perhaps not. 

After something like ten attempts this “genius” tactic started to bring success for Madrid yet by then it was too late. Barcelona proved to have the mentality and belief in their style and in Messi had a player who could make that significant difference when it mattered. Added to that the inevitable media portrayal of 'good vs evil' and the theatre which was El Clasico was heightened to extreme levels of intensity, coverage and drama. Yet continually Barcelona would overcome Madrid, or should I say Guardiola would overcome Mourinho. This was significant. 

This battle made Mourinho appear more clueless, sinister and out of his depth. There was little graciousness in defeat, only excuses and complaints. This was not a respectful coach but a bitter and envious man. Mourinho had arrived at Madrid a European Cup winner like he did at Chelsea. Yet this time he encountered a beast like nothing he had in England. 

He was embarrassed by Guardiola, not just by his tactical nous but by his respect and lack of desire to ‘play’ Mourinho’s games. Significantly the clash of style and fashion between the two was evident. It was Mourinho who for the past decade was viewed as the Armani suit wearing coach who was regarded as handsome, the pinup. Yet Guardiola even defeated him in that battle, he looked sharper and more modern. In fact Mourinho was so put out by this that in the end he was wearing gilet’s and looking more like a golfer. The truth was that Barcelona and Guardiola exposed Mourinho’s flaws.

Self-absorbing Mourinho forgot about Madrid

In the battle between Mourinho and Barcelona, of which is little doubt that this is what has driven Mourinho since he was rejected for the job in 2008, he has seemingly forgotten to focus on the club he has coached for three seasons. His obsession with Barcelona has not only affected his reputation and character but also that of Madrid. 

Yes you can argue that he has brought consistency to a team which was lacking in this for a decade, yet would Pellegrini have been more successful if allowed to continue after his 96 points season? That we will not know. However what is certain is that Pellegrini would not have caused so many conflicts and issues with the players and club.

Real Madrid have exposed Mourinho as much as Barcelona have. It has proven what many suspect about Mourinho; that he enjoys being the underdog. Yet Madrid do not see themselves as underdogs but as the world’s best, they believe they are the most noble and beautiful of clubs. Mourinho dirtied the shirts of the kings of Madrid. 

It is no surprise therefore that players turned on him and no surprise it was the Spanish core, those who know what Madrid stand for and who know what is to win trophies. These World Cup winners were asked to play roles they did not wish to in order to overcome Barcelona. It was not like his previous clubs where he was able to convince his players that they must trust him implicitly. Because unlike Porto, Chelsea and Inter the players at Madrid were already winners. And those Spanish players had succeeding by playing some of the best football seen. 

In their eyes his methods was not in keeping with the Madrid and Spanish culture and mutiny ensued. Issues with Ramos and Casillas were significant, as well as advice from Alonso to tone it down. He had lost the key members of the team. His desire was to rid the club of these men in order to maintain his control. Yet this was the problem; these players, Casillas especially were bigger and more important than Mourinho. If anyone was to go it would be the coach. 

Yes at first he was granted his wish to have Raul leave, conscious of his influence on the side and public yet it was Casillas who has proven to be his biggest enemy. The foe from within has proven to be his biggest downfall. 

Now of course if Mourinho had not been so stubborn he could have worked with Casillas and utilised the world’s best keeper. Instead he spited himself and the teams success by dropping him. The lack of harmony and togetherness has been the reason for Madrid’s failures this season and Mourinho is the man to blame. His arrogance, stubbornness and failure to understand the club has left him empty handed.

No longer the "Special One"

The man who arrived in 2010 as the European Cup winner, the “Special One” will leave Madrid a failure and a shadow of the man who has dominated football this past decade. The question is, have we seen the best of Mourinho? Coaches like Guardiola and Klopp appear every bit the modern coach; intense yes but with class and respect. We are witnessing the rise of the new generation of coaches and I have my doubts that Mourinho will achieve anywhere near the success he has done this past decade.

It is hard to see the charisma, that arrogance and the winner which arrived in England in 2004. Although successful in Italy and Spain the years spent there have changed him, made him colder. He has lost the swagger, humour and cockiness which was his allure and instead has become a spiteful man who comes across as nothing but sore loser. It is excuses which have characterised his time in Madrid, yet the truth is he must be at fault for what he has put together in three years. 

If he does return to Chelsea this summer it is an admittance that he has failed at the very top. Yes he was the best for many years yet his failure at Madrid along with his persona and character has shown clubs like United, Barcelona and Bayern that he is not suited for the top of the elite clubs. Even Man City (where the decision makers are ex-Barca people) appear reluctant to approach him. This would have been seen as lunacy a few years ago yet Madrid has not only made a failure but has tainted his reputation dearly. 

Chelsea appears his only option, a rather pathetic admittance by both club and coach that they suit and need each other. Although Mourinho will continue to be part of football for years to come, I believe we have seen the best of him. By all accounts Mourinho is a splendid man away from the media and football pitch, it is a shame that we have not seen more of the real Jose this past decade.

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address

Related articles

• Part II – The Special One
• Are Madrid too big for Jose?
• A “Real” Mess at Madrid 
• All The Pressure on The "Special One"?
• El Clasico - Who is The Special One?