"I've always been..." - Jose Mourinho has finally confirmed which club he supports
Jose Mourinho has finally confirmed which club he supports.
The Portuguese manager has taken charge of several of Europe’s finest clubs across his storied career.
With Porto Mourinho won the Champions League; with Chelsea, he claimed consecutive Premier League titles. At Inter Mourinho won a historic treble, while he pipped Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team to the La Liga title in 2012 with Real Madrid.
Despite ill-fated spells at United and Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho has had a close affiliation with all the clubs he has managed.
And while he has emotional ties with all of his former clubs, the 60-year-old has revealed there’s one, in particular, he has “always” supported.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport via Marca, Mourinho said: "People may have a different perception, but I've always had an excellent relationship with the clubs I've worked for.”
However, he added: "I met a Mexican Madrid fan in Portugal and he greeted me with immense joy. I have always been a Madridista and always will be."
Furthermore, when asked about the reason for his move to Roma, Mourinho gave Real boss Carlo Ancelotti as an example.
He explained: "It's not often that successful coaches take on a lesser project, except for Carlo with Everton. People think we are finished and then he went to Madrid and won everything again.
"When Carlo's generation and mine come to an end, I doubt that we will find careers that are as long and as successful. Today the good coach arrives with more speed and with the same speed he is replaced by other passing phenomena.
"[Ancelotti] won the first International Cup in 2003 and the last in 2023, I won the first in 2004 and the last in 2022. He is a great coach. As an 'Ancelottiano' and a Madridista, I hope he stays at Real for a long time."
During Mourinho’s three seasons at Santiago Bernabeu, between 2010 to 2013, he lifted three pieces of silverware in the Liga title, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup.
However, his third and final season was marred with controversy having fallen out with key figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas and seen his relationship with the Spanish media also hit rock bottom.