Jose Mourinho will take charge of his 1000th game in management as Roma faces Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend. Mourinho’s managerial career has now spanned 21 years and has seen him win league titles in Portugal, England, Italy, and Spain. He also has two Champions League and two Europa League winners medals in his incredible medal haul.
Mourinho has been one of the most charismatic, engaging, polarising and controversial figures in football over the last two decades. To celebrate his 1000th game in management, here is a look at five of Mourinho’s most memorable moments.
Jose Mourinho Reaches 1000 Games in Management
Mourinho’s Celebration at Old Trafford
In March 2004, Jose Mourinho took his Porto side to Old Trafford for the second leg of the Champions League last 16 encounter. Mourinho had already begun to make a name for himself in management. He guided Porto to the UEFA Cup the year previous, as well as the Portuguese title. However, it was this match against Manchester United where Mourinho made his name and England started to take attention.
Paul Scholes gave United the lead after half an hour and Sir Alex Ferguson’s side looked to be heading through on away goals. But in the last minute, Francisco Costinha equalised to send Porto through on aggregate. It sparked the famous celebration of Mourinho running along the touchline to celebrate with his players.
Mourinho would go on to guide Porto to their second Champions League title, winning 3-0 against Monaco in Gelsenkirchen, and would then leave to join Chelsea.
Guides Chelsea to First League Title in 50 Years
In June 2004, Jose Mourinho joined Chelsea. In his first press conference, he immediately said he was ‘The Special One.’ It was a big claim to make but he showed why as Chelsea produced one of the most dominant seasons in Premier League history.
Chelsea would lose just once all season in the Premier League and would collect a then-record 95 points. The Blues’ first league title in 50 years was sealed with a 2-0 win against Bolton Wanderers thanks to a double from Frank Lampard.
Mourinho would also secure the League Cup in his first season but would miss out on the Champions League after a semi-final defeat to Liverpool thanks to the ‘ghost goal’ by Luis Garcia.
Mourinho Wins Historic Treble with Inter Milan
Jose Mourinho left Chelsea in September 2007 after his relationship with the club broke down. Almost a year later, he would move to Inter Milan to join the Serie A giants.
In his first season in charge, he would guide the Nerazzurri to the Scudetto. However, in his second season, he guided them to a historic treble. After winning the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia, Inter faced Bayern Munich in the final of the Champions League.
A double from Diego Milito helped Inter to their first Champions League trophy in 45 years. Mourinho became only the third man in history to win the Champions League with two different clubs. Also, Inter became the first Italian side to win the treble.
Jose Mourinho Defeats Pep Guardiola at the Nou Camp
One of the most famous matches in the Champions League over the last 20 years was when Mourinho’s Inter Milan faced Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the semi-final second leg at the Nou Camp.
Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Mourinho and Inter produced a defensive masterclass to secure their place in the final. Despite playing with ten men for more than an hour, Inter nullified Barcelona and through sheer will and desire found a way through.
Gerard Pique scored for Barca late on but they couldn’t find that vital second goal and instead, it was the Italian giants who celebrated reaching their first final in Europe’s top club competition in more than 40 years.
At the final whistle, Mourinho ran onto the pitch with his hands aloft, a pointed salute to the Barca supporters and media critics who had labelled him ‘The Translator’ in mocking tribute to his time at the club in the 1990s.
Breaks La Liga Points Record at Real Madrid
After guiding Inter to a historic treble, Jose Mourinho left to take charge of Real Madrid. Los Blancos had begun to play second fiddle to Pep Guardiola and Barcelona. The Blaugrana had won three La Liga titles in a row as well as winning the Champions League in 2009 and 2011.
However, the 2011/12 season would see Real Madrid break all kinds of La Liga records. They would lose just two games and win 100 points. They would also break numerous other records. These included most goals scored (121), best goal difference (+89), most away wins (16), and most overall wins (32).
It also broke the notion that Jose Mourinho’s teams were defensive. Guiding Real to the league title and breaking Barca’s dominance was impressive but to do it in record-breaking fashion underlined Mourinho’s special one reputation.
Love him or hate him, nobody can say that it has been dull with Jose Mourinho around. Recent years haven’t been great for Mourinho but you wouldn’t bet against him adding more memorable moments in the future.
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