Jose Mourinho has a new answer to the question about the biggest achievement of his storied managerial career.
The ‘Special One’ has won major honours at Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Porto, and is the only manager to have lifted the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League titles.
However, he had previously surprised fans by hailing Manchester United’s second-place finish to the 2017/18 Premier League season as his most important accomplishment as a coach.
But he now thinks differently, saying he achieved something ‘impossible’ during his two-and-a-half year spell in charge at Roma.
“My biggest achievement, until now? Two European finals with Roma,” Mourinho said.
“Impossible to do it, I don’t think anybody will do it again.”
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Mourinho was speaking to CNN Romania before a charity match in Bucharest, where he will manage a World XI team – featuring Brazilian legend Rivaldo – against a 1994 Romania All Stars side.
The boss led Roma to back-to-back European finals, having won the Europa Conference League in its inaugural year before reaching the Europa League final in the following season, where they were beaten by Sevilla on penalties – handing Mourinho his first defeat in six European finals
The interviewer appeared surprised by the iconic manager’s answer, and then asked why he did not choose winning the Champions League with Inter Milan.
“That was easier,” said Mourinho. “Better players, a different club with different ambitions. More difficult was Roma.”
Now 61, Mourinho has spent over 20 years as a manager at the top level of football.
He says he wants to keep managing for ‘ten more’ years, amid links to jobs in Saudi Arabia, but the ‘Special One’ has revealed he is keen to coach the Portugal national team before he gives up life in the dugout for good.
Asked about turning down the chance to be Portugal manager to take the job at Roma instead in 2021, he said: “It was a hard decision, and wrong, maybe. I think so.
“Well… not wrong,” he then added with a shrug. “Because I want to work every day, I want to coach every day, I want to play two or three matches per week, and in that sense a national team job is a different profile. It’s more analytical, travelling, looking at players, choosing players, no time to train.
“But Portugal is a fantastic team. Incredible players, the best generation. Portugal can win the Euros, Portugal can win the World Cup, if they do well they can.”
Asked if he would consider the call to take charge of the Portugal team, Mourinho replied: “Yeah, I think it would be a natural end, let’s say, for my career to go home.”
News Summary:
- ‘Nobody will do it again’ – Jose Mourinho replaces Manchester United feat as biggest career achievement
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