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Jose Mourinho admits to having ‘deep sentiments’ for all except one of his clubs.
Jose Mourinho has acknowledged having “deep feelings” for every team he has ever worked with, with the exception of just one—Tottenham.
Mourinho has won trophies with teams in five distinct countries, solidifying his place among the all-time great managers.
More than 30 years ago, the Portuguese coach at Sporting CP first served as the late Bobby Robson’s assistant coach after being employed as a translator. When Louis van Gaal was named head coach, he stayed at Camp Nou having accompanied the Englishman to Porto and then Barcelona.
Mourinho made his independent debut in 2000 with a brief stay at Benfica. He subsequently moved on to Uniao de Leiria and had his major break in 2002 after returning to Porto.
Mourinho won the UEFA Cup to Porto at the end of his first season there, and a year later, his club won the Champions League, making them the last Portuguese team to reach the final.
When Chelsea recruited Mourinho in 2004, he dubbed himself a “Special One,” and mythology was created.
With Chelsea, Inter, and Real Madrid over the years, Mourinho won the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga crowns as well as domestic cups in all three nations. Roma won the first Europa Conference League last season and advanced to this season’s Europa League final, but even during his time at Manchester United, he won the League Cup and the Europa League.
Tottenham is the team of which Mourinho doesn’t have many positive memories.
Eleven months after being fired by United in December 2018, he was selected to succeed Mauricio Pochettino in north London. But Mourinho ultimately had to lead Spurs through COVID-19 and attempt to reassemble a squad on the spot. Finally, only a few days before the 2021 Carabao Cup final, he was fired after 17 months, leaving the club trophy-less for the first time since 2002.
A persistent and especially painful place for Mourinho seems to have been the fact that he had led Spurs into a final before being fired just before the game.
“I hope the Tottenham fans don’t get me wrong, but the only club in my career where I don’t have still a deep feeling for is Tottenham,” he said. “Probably because the stadium was empty, Covid time. Probably because Mr Levy didn’t let me win a final and win a trophy.”
Due to his recent success with Roma, a team he claims he will “forever be tied to,” Mourinho has been speculatively linked with Paris Saint-Germain.