Tag: Mourinho

Jose Mourinho got off to a strong start in his first game as manager of Benfica as his side eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over AVS Futebol SAD in a Primeira Liga clash.

Mourinho, who left Turkey’s Fenerbahce last month, was appointed Benfica manager on Thursday, a day after Bruno Lage was sacked following their shock 3-2 Champions League defeat by Qarabag.

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Heorhiy Sudakov opened the scoring for Benfica on the stroke of half-time, before Vangelis Pavlidis and Franjo Ivanovic sealed the three points on Saturday.

Despite the win, the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss was quick to keep expectations in check.

“We worked for an hour and a half yesterday,” the 62-year-old told reporters. “I thank the players for their professionalism, their passion for the club, but at the same time for the way they welcomed me, the way I felt they were embracing what we were working on, and that’s it.”

“If we had lost, it would obviously have been a disaster in terms of points. Winning isn’t phenomenal, but it was the best thing we could do, they needed to win after losing two points and after a psychologically heavy defeat.

“I told them after the game, it was good, but it was nothing extraordinary, hurry up, tomorrow there’s training in the morning.”

Benfica are second in the Portuguese top-flight standings with 13 points from five matches.

Benfica appointed Jose Mourinho as their coach, with the Portuguese returning to work in his homeland 21 years after leaving Porto for Chelsea.

The 62-year-old, who also coached Real Madrid and Manchester United amongst other clubs, was sacked by Turkish side Fenerbahce in August after Benfica beat them in the Champions League play-offs.

Mourinho has signed a contract “to run until the end of the 2026⁄27 season”, Benfica said in a statement, with an option for either party to end the deal at the end of the current campaign.

The two-time European champions sacked Bruno Lage after a shock defeat in their Champions League opener against Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag on Tuesday.

Mourinho will soon face reunions against former sides Chelsea and Porto, in the Champions League on September 30 and in the Primeira Liga on October 5 respectively.

 “I come to Benfica at a different stage in my career, and as a person… we transform for the better,” Mourinho told reporters, sitting alongside Benfica president Rui Costa.

 “I’m more altruistic, less self-centred, I think less about myself and more about the good I can do for others, the joy I can bring to others. I’m not the important thing – Benfica is important.”

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After starting out his coaching career as an assistant to Bobby Robson and then Louis van Gaal at Barcelona, Mourinho made the step up to head coach at Benfica in September 2000.

He quit after just 11 matches and then, after impressing at Uniao de Leiria, he joined the Eagles’ fierce rivals Porto and guided them to back-to-back league titles and the Champions League crown in 2004.

That set him on the path to a successful career coaching Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid before his fortunes dived after joining Manchester United in 2016.

More modest stints then followed at Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahce.

 “In some people’s minds, I have two resumes – one that lasted a certain period and another that represents, let’s say, a less happy phase of my career,” said Mourinho.

 “My misfortune is that in the last five years, I’ve played in two European finals. The negative part of my career… is two European finals in the last five years.”

Mourinho won three Premier League titles across two spells at Chelsea, as well as the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, and a La Liga title with Real Madrid among other trophies.

However, since 2017, when he won the Europa League with Manchester United, Mourinho’s only silverware was the Conference League with Roma in 2022.

Mourinho’s first game at the helm of Benfica will be a visit to face AVS tomorrow  in the top flight.

 “It’s been 25 years in which I’ve had the opportunity to work for the biggest clubs in the world,” said Mourinho, of the time since he first departed Benfica.

 “I’d like to say that none of the other giant clubs I’ve had the opportunity to coach have made me feel more honoured, responsible, or motivated than being the coach of Benfica,” he added.

“The promise is very clear: I will live for Benfica, for my mission.”

Mourinho said he was more “mature” now than when he previously coached the club, and insisted his team had the quality to win the title.

Sporting Lisbon won the last two titles, with Benfica’s last triumph in 2023.

 “Benfica have enough potential within that dressing room to be champions,” said Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho bragged that Fenerbahce are a better team than Rangers as he challenged Ibrox interim boss Barry Ferguson not to take a cautious approach against his side in today’s Europa League last-16 second leg.

The Turkish team must overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit in Glasgow after their 18-game unbeaten run was ended in Istanbul last week.

Despite admitting Fenerbahce deserved to lose, Mourinho attempted to crank up the pressure on Rangers.

 “I think Rangers is not a better team than us,” the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss said. “And I think we have a chance of qualifying. It’s not hurting, it’s not that I want revenge or we have to go there to show we are better. It’s nothing about that.

 “It’s just the fact that I honestly think we are better. But as I was trying to be very honest after the match there and even today, we deserved to lose.”

Mourinho tried to goad Ferguson into attacking his team by claiming that the Rangers fans, who have seen their side lose three successive home matches, would not tolerate a defensive approach.

 “I don’t know if Ibrox, as a very iconic British stadium like many in Scotland and England, will accept a very defensive performance like they had in Fenerbahce,” said the Portuguese manager.

 “That was successful for them, but a very defensive performance. I don’t know if they are going to accept it.

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 “And we are prepared for both. We are prepared for Rangers to try to play the same way, in a low block, waiting for our mistake, counter-attack.”

Ferguson, who was appointed interim boss last month following the sacking of Philippe Clement, has warned his players to brace for a Mourinho-inspired backlash.

“Standing on the touchline (alongside him last week), it was an honour for me,” said the former Rangers captain. “He’s got a real good team, he’s a top-class manager.

 “He would have been hurting, I know that for a fact. You’ll see a different kind of Fenerbahce tomorrow night, there’s no doubt about that.”

Rangers are bidding to avoid a fourth successive defeat at Ibrox for the first time in their history but Ferguson told his players they must embrace playing in front of their own supporters.

“We need to light that fire in the stands, that’s what we need to start doing,” he said. “As a manager, I can’t wait. You’ve got to be excited about this.”

Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun is hopeful Scottish side, Rangers will dislodge Fenerbahce to advance to the last eight of the UEFA Europa League.

Despite expressing his admiration for Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho, Balogun exudes confidence that Rangers will regain their form and qualify  for the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.

Rangers secured automatic qualification to the Round of 16 after finishing top of their group, while Fenerbahce earned their place by defeating Dutch side Anderlecht 5-3 on aggregate in the knockout play-off round.

The two teams will face off in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash on Thursday at the Ülker Stadium. Fenerbahce enters the match in exceptional form, having gone unbeaten in their last 18 games across all competitions.

In contrast, Rangers have struggled in recent weeks and suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership over the weekend.

 “I think I’ve only played against Mourinho once. That was my first time in the Premier League, and we beat him (Manchester United) 3-2 at home to Brighton,” Leon Balogun said  ahead of  Thursday’s encounter. “That was a great memory.

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“ He’s a very, very big character. He’s a very big manager in the world of football, and you have to have a lot of respect for Mourinho. I personally enjoy Mourinho’s press conferences because I think a lot of people call him arrogant.

 “Maybe, but I think he’s a very special character. And I think you need a few characters that are not too generic to make football fun. It also gives you (the media) something to write about.

 “Fenerbahce away is a big opportunity for us. After what happened at home, playing the first game away and getting the fans back on our side could be beneficial. However, we still need to take at least two big steps from today to get a good result in Istanbul.”

“The fact that we will probably be playing European football again in a week will also help us. So this is a big chance, a big opportunity. We really need to give everything to the game. We already have to do that, but now even more so,” he added.

Ex-Roma coach Mourinho is under pressure at Fenerbahce and failing to win the upcoming Europa League game against Athletic Club would prompt club directors to consider the coach’s future.

According to Diario AS, Fenerbahce directors are disappointed by this season’s results.

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Fenerbahce sit second in the Turkish league table but are already six points below leaders Galatasaray. Furthermore, they lost the Istanbul derby against Ciro Immobile’s Besiktas on Saturday.

Mourinho was sacked by Roma less than a year ago.

The Special One had six months left in his contract at the Stadio Olimpico when the Giallorossi fired him in mid-January and hired Daniele De Rossi to replace him.

The 61-year-old signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahce in June.

Two-time Champions League winning coach Jose Mourinho arrived in Istanbul to be unveiled as the new manager of Fenerbahce and was accorded a welcome fit for a popstar by the 19-times Turkish champions’ fans.

The Portuguese coach, who won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, has not worked since his sacking by Italian Serie A side Roma in January.

But like the self-acclaimed ‘Special One’ Fenerbahce are in need of a boost of their own with 10 years passing since their last domestic title.

He was greeted at the airport by a crowd of Fenerbahce fans and later was presented at club stadium alongside club president Ali Koç and in front of the side’s fans, decked out in Fenerbahce yellow and black.

The 61-year-old announced the latest move – his 11^th  club – in his career in a post on X on Saturday night from Wembley as he was acting as a television pundit for Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final. He counts Real as one of his former clubs.

Read Also: Mourinho teases Fenerbahce move with cryptic social media post

 “Good evening Fenerbahce fans, see you tomorrow at Kadikoy (the Istanbul suburb where the club is based) and let’s start our journey together,” Mourinho announced.

Reports suggest Mourinho has signed a two-year contract for Fenerbahce, one of the three big Istanbul sides.

Details are due to be confirmed at today’s  press conference.

Mourinho, who enjoyed major success at Chelsea and Inter Milan, less so at Manchester United and Tottenham, was dismissed by Roma after two-and-a-half years in January with the club struggling in ninth at the time.

He guided Roma to the inaugural Europa Conference League trophy in 2022 and the final of last season’s Europa League.

Fenerbahce are hoping Mourinho still has some of his magic touch left as they take aim on next season’s league title.

Jose Mourinho has dropped a cryptic hint on social media ahead of a reported move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

The 61-year-old has reportedly agreed a shock two-year deal with the club, returning to work for the first time since being sacked by Roma in January.

Mourinho had been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia and even briefly emerged as one of the bettings favourites for the Chelsea job after Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.

The Blues, however, have opted to move for Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca, who will sign a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

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Fenerbahce finished second in the Turkish Super Lig last season despite amassing 99 points, with eternal rivals Galatasaray breaking the points record to finish on 102.

The move would see him reunite with Brazilian midfielder Fred, who worked under the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ at Manchester United.

Mourinho, who is set to join TNT Sports’ live coverage of Saturday’s Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and former club Real Madrid at Wembley, hinted at the move on social media.

Jose Mourinho has  criticised Roma for forcing him to be ‘more than a coach’ and sacking him after two European Finals, but does ‘not regret’ turning down Portugal.

The Special One was sacked by the Giallorossi in mid-January, much to his visible chagrin after weeks of declaring he wanted to extend his contract, which was due to expire on June 30 anyway.

The team has gone from strength to strength since replacement Daniele De Rossi took charge, while Mou has been linked with numerous roles, above all in Saudi Arabia and the Premier League.

 “I’m ready to start, and sometimes when you end at a club, you feel the need of a rest, of a think, to process things. In this case, one day after I left, I was ready to go,” Mourinho told Fabrizio Romano.

 “I feel strong, I feel good, I love the work. I’m really ready, but I don’t want to make the wrong choice. I cannot accept something just because of the feeling and pressure to be back. I need to be patient.

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 “Normally, it is very, very difficult to start in March or April, so my objective is to start in the summer.”

The Portuguese coach won the Conference League with Roma in 2022, then reached the Europa League Final in 2023, so feels that should’ve insulated him from dismissal.

 “It looked like this didn’t happen, because when people speak about me normally, they are more focused on what happened 15, 8, 20 years ago.

 “There are so many great coaches in Europe and normally the great coaches are coaching the best teams with more possibilities of getting into Finals. In the last years I got to three Finals, one with Manchester United and two with Roma.

 “If we look only the last two years, I am the only one with two European Finals. So I look at it with a little bit of fun, but at the same time with some pride, because especially with a club without history in Europe, you realise it was really something special.

 “This season I am not going to play a Final, but I hope next year to be the only one to make three Finals in four years.”

Roma fans adored Mourinho throughout his tenure, but he repeatedly complained that there was no figure who was standing up for what he perceived to be unfair treatment from the media and the authorities.

His comments also felt like lashing out yet again at former Roma director of sport Tiago Pinto.

 “They sense I give everything. Because of my personality, in the end I am always going to be more than a coach. In some club structures, you have to be the coach, then the technical director, then the communication director, then the image that defends the club, the players and that is something that people realise.

 “But at the same time, it is something that a coach doesn’t like. What I want to be is a coach. The ideal scenario is when the club has a structure that allows the coach to be the coach, on the pitch, the training ground, the dressing room, the touchline.

 “I was the coach at Inter, I was the coach at Real Madrid, I was the coach in my first spell at Chelsea. I was the coach at Porto. In some other clubs, I was not the coach.

 “That is very difficult for a coach. But at every football club where I work, they see I wear the shirt and I fight for them.”

Mourinho said he turned down massive proposals so he could stick to his commitment at Roma.

 “I had the door open twice with Portugal, please come and the place is yours. Once when I was at Real Madrid and the objective was to be the Portugal coach in a part-time role. I realised when the President Florentino Perez said it was not possible, it was the end of that.

 “The second time, do I regret not taking it, because I was sacked a few months later at Roma? I do not regret. Because the reason I did not accept, I’m happy with the reason. So I don’t regret.

 “If you tell me before the World Cup, the Euros, the Copa America, the African Cup to coach a national team, I say yes. But two years of waiting, I’m not sure I would enjoy it.”

As for the lucrative Saudi Pro League, that was another job that Mourinho turned down because he was under contract at Roma.

 “Cristiano Ronaldo opened the door for that league. Of course, the offer was economically important, but I refused because Roma, European football, objectives, commitment were more important to me.

 “If you ask me in the future, experience has taught me to say never say never. I am in Saudi to watch boxing, Formula 1, meet with friends, I am not here to sign any contract.

 “I have time until the end of the season to make the right decision for me.”