Mourinho is out of Roma - What’s next for the “Special One”?
Published on 20 Jan 2024 | Last updated on 20 Jan 2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes
He’s one of the most enigmatic, charismatic, and controversial figures in world football, but also one of the most decorated and celebrated managers of all time. José Mourinho has been at the apex of the sport on several occasions, leading teams to domestic and European successes on numerous occasions. But after a series of bad results leaving Roma 9th in Serie A, and defeat by fierce rivals Lazio in a bad-tempered game knocking the side out of the Coppa Italia, Mourinho and the club parted company.
So, what’s next for the manager who was once dubbed (by himself) the “Special One”? European football could still be on the cards, but so is a move to Saudi Arabia, following in the footsteps of many high-profile players, as the Kingdom continues to invest in elite sport in the country. We all know the stories of his successes at Chelsea and Real Madrid, but let’s look a bit further back at some special moments.
What Makes Mourinho Special?
Despite a fairly unremarkable career as a midfielder in his native Portugal, José Mourinho moved into coaching, working with Bobby Robson, first as an interpreter in Portugal, and then as an assistant coach after a move to Barcelona. Whilst at the Catalonian club, he and Robson became close and began developing tactics together, combining Mourinho’s defensive nous with the Englishman’s more aggressive style.
After Robson moved on again Barcelona retained him as an assistant coach, where he worked under Louis van Gaal, further developing his craft. The lessons he learned from these two iconic managers, combined with his love of planning and fluid tactics put him in good stead for later successes, and made him worthy of the moniker “the Special One”.
Path to Glory at Porto
After brief spells at União de Leiria and Benfica, Mourinho signed on as manager of Porto, replacing Octávio Machado mid-season, and leading the team to a strong 3rd place finish in the league, promising to take the title the following season. True to his word, he guided Porto to the Primeira Liga title in 2002-03, and completed a remarkable treble with victories in the Taça de Portugal and the UEFA Cup, defeating Celtic in the final.
The following season brought another league title, plus an even greater prize — victory in the UEFA Champions League in what many dubbed a miracle. His confrontation with Roy Keane and Alex Ferguson, plus his touchline celebration at a last-minute goal, which secured victory over Manchester United in the semi-final second leg brought him worldwide attention.
Chelsea & Inter
Mourinho’s successes at Porto led him to Chelsea, recently purchased by Roman Abramovich, who made significant investments in the club. In the now-infamous pre-season press conference, when asked about the level of his squad he said "We have top players and, sorry if I'm arrogant, we have a top manager", before adding, “Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one.”
While he couldn’t provide the European glory Abramovich craved, back-to-back Premier League titles promptly followed, before his relationship with the Russian billionaire gradually soured, prompting a move to Inter Milan.
Most popular sports betting experts began to predict success for any team managed by Mourinho, and his move to Italy proved them right. Inter he picked up back-to-back Serie A titles, and during the second of those, 2009-10, he brought the club to a historic treble, defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final. Despite this, an offer from Real Madrid was too good to turn down.
Ups and Downs
Three reasonably successful seasons followed with the Spanish giants, with one La Liga title, a Copa Del Rey, and a Supercopa de España title. Mourinho returned to Chelsea in 2013, guiding the team to another Premier League title in the 2014-15 season, before departing for the head role at Manchester United, a position that had seemingly been cursed since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Despite a Europa League title in his first season and a runners-up spot in his second, fans and the board were increasingly unhappy with Mourinho’s style of play, and Manchester United’s continuing mediocre form. After a fairly unhappy two-season spell at Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho returned to Italy.
His first two seasons at Roma seemed to reinvigorate a team that had seen some wilderness years. UEFA Europa Conference League victory ended Roma’s trophy drought, but they couldn’t repeat the feat in the Europa League the following season. And, as we’ve seen above, a disappointing start to his third season has led to dismissal.
Saudi Future?
So, what’s next? Mourinho has managed some of the biggest clubs in the history of club football, and in the past has hinted at a move to Saudi Arabia, which would no doubt be extremely lucrative. He’d be following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, to name just three. Saudi seems to be the place for superstars in the twilight of their careers, so possibly the 60-year-old Mourinho wants to make some hay while the sun shines.
Whatever he does next, there’s never a dull moment when José Mourinho is part of a football match. Whether it’s his actions or words that do the talking, the “Special One” will always bring something extra to the game.
