Believe it or not, there are still some out there who doubt Jose Mourinho’s special abilities.
The ‘Special One’ has done so much in a managerial career that’s lasted more than 20 years, achieving what many can only dream of doing.
His latest gig was as Tottenham manager, but an exciting, special new project awaits this summer as it is has been confirmed he’s joining talkSPORT to be part of our Euro 2020 team.
Jose will be with listeners across the schedule from talkSPORT’s live Euro GameDay programming to regular slots at Breakfast which will include pre-game insight and an exclusive post-game phone in for talkSPORT listeners.
And in case you’ve forgotten, here’s a reminder of the trophies talkSPORT’s new signing has won in an incredible career.
A special haul of trophies
Mourinho's CV is one to make most managers green with envy
Porto
Primeira Liga x2
Taca de Portugal
Supertaca Candido de Oliveira
Champions League
UEFA Cup
Chelsea
Premier League x3
FA Cup
League Cup x3
Community Shield
Inter
Serie A x2
Coppa Italia
Supercoppa Italiana
Champions League
Real Madrid
LaLiga
Copa del Rey
Supercopa de Espana
Manchester United
Community Shield
League Cup
Europa League
Having started as a translator and then coach with Sir Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona, Mourinho got his first managerial job at Benfica.
He really made his name at Porto, though, as he won two Portuguese league titles, the UEFA Cup and then capped it off with Champions League glory in 2004.
Having put the club back at the top of the European food chain 17 years after their last European triumph, it was time to sprinkle magic dust on another sleeping giant.
Chelsea, flush with owner Roman Abramovich’s billions, came calling and Mourinho reinvented the Blues as a Premier League powerhouse.
He may have appeared cocky as he was introduced to British fans with the words ‘I think I am a special one’, but this was no show. Mourinho was the real deal. Did he care if he was popular? No, his job was to win trophies and he certainly delivered.
Chelsea romped to the Premier League title in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge and he also won an FA Cup and two League Cups during his first stint.
He had brought the club to the top table having not won a league title since 1955, while Mourinho set league records: most wins in a season, most away wins, most points (95) and least goals conceded, with just 15 going past Petr Cech.
The seemingly perfect marriage ended suddenly in 2007 but he was snapped up by Inter MIlan shortly after and it proved to be a memorable two-year spell as he secured them two Serie A titles, including the treble in 2010 that culminated in a memorable Champions League triumph – the club’s first since 1965. It was Grande Inter once again and it was all thanks to Mourinho.
Leaving on a high, Real Madrid asked him to restore glory at the Bernabeu next. They had not been league champions since 2008 and kings of Europe since 2002. While there was no Champions League success, Real were crowned champions of Spain in 2012 as he derailed Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
A return to Chelsea followed and the 2014/15 season saw the Blues win the Premier League and League Cup before he took charge of rivals Manchester United in the summer of 2016.
Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were brought in and in his first season at Old Trafford, Mourinho won the League Cup and Europa League.
However, there was chaos behind the scenes at Old Trafford and he left in December 2018.
At a time when Manchester City were so dominant and there were apparent plotters with varying agendas at his own club, Mourinho was rightly pleased to finish as a runner-up in the Premier League.
Mourinho’s latest job was at Spurs and although it ended after just 17 months amid criticism of his style of play, he did lead them to cup final, although he didn’t get a chance to walk out at Wembley.
The result could have been different had he been in the dugout.
Jose Mourinho will be part of the talkSPORT team for this summer’s Europea Championship finals
