John Terry once described him as the best man manager he had ever worked with.
High praise from a man who played under the guidance of Fabio Capello, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez to name a few.
Yet the once ‘Special One’ has had his fair share of spats over the years.
So many in fact, we decided to make an XI of all his famous foes across his managerial career.
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GK- Iker Casillas
The Galactico’s Galactico. A man with 725 games for Los Blancos.
Everything appeared dandy between Jose and his captain for a year and a half. Jose even claimed he was the best goalkeeper in the world
That was until Iker was dropped for the away game at Malaga in December 2012.
Antonio Adan replaced him and conceded three goals.
But cross Jose and that could be the end of you, Cassilas’ girlfriend eventually had to come out and fight his corner.
LB- Luke Shaw
While the two appear to be getting on like a house on fire this season, that certainly wasn’t always the case.
At half time in United’s 2-0 victory over Brighton last season Shaw asked his boss, “Why are you always picking on me?”
When asked about the left back’s commitment, Jose claimed Shaw was ‘a long way behind’ his rival for the position, Ashley Young.
Bridges appear to have been built, yet due to the length of the saga, Shaw had to make the XI.
CB- Sergio Ramos
Like Casillas, Ramos was omitted from some big games for Madrid. Most famously for their Champions League clash with Man City at the Bernabeu.
Ramos, apparently unhappy with Mourinho’s public criticism, went alongside Casillas to the club president to say, “If the manager doesn’t go, we will.”
Player power prevailed.
CB- David Luiz
His career has been something of a rollercoaster.
He was fast becoming a cult hero at Stamford Bridge before Jose arrived.
Jose said that Luiz ‘would not be missed’ after he was sold for a staggering £50million in 2014.
Fast forward three years and the Brazilian was named in the 2017 PFA team of the season, so it’s safe to say he got the last laugh.
RB- Antonio Valencia
Yes I know, hardly Ali Vs Frazier this one.
Maybe Jose just loves his right-backs?
He, like Luke Shaw, was questioned by his manager for being out of shape in pre-season earlier this year.
Clearly happy now, Valencia has held the arm band and appears to be in his manager’s good books… the pages of which are diminishing at United these days.
LW- Ricardo Quaresma
Jose signed the young Portuguese star while in charge on Inter Milan for a hefty £15mil.
The enigmatic winger went on to win the Bidone d’Oro, ‘The Golden Bin award’ to you and me, as the worst player in Serie A.
Jose took aim at Quaresma’s mentality, the player shot back at Mourinho’s cold management, making Jose out to be a prison guard, not a manager.
CM- Kevin De Bruyne
In his first Premier League game he put in a man of the match performance.
So Jose dropped him just weeks later after a bad game against Swindon.
In retrospect that was probably a hasty decision.
CM- Paul Pogba
After a certain kind of bromance the honeymoon phase is well and truly over now.
Pogba recently said ‘A coach and a player don’t have to be best friends’, which doesn’t bode well.
Mourinho dropped him as second captain and then hooked him against West Ham. Spicy.
RW- Pedro Leon
Possibly Mourinho’s biggest ever beef.
Leon was only at Madrid for one year, making 14 appearances.
Jose was so frustrated with the young winger that he said, “Even if the plane crashed, and you were not on it, you would still not play the following week.”
Wow, just when you thought Luke Shaw had a tough time.
ST- Mario Balotlelli
This is one you might call ‘love/hate’. Mourinho clearly loves a bit of subservience within his squad.
But that’s not a word in Mario’s dictionary.
Mourinho recounts asking Super Mario to be in his office at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon. Mario, instead had gone to the Formula 1 qualifying.
With hindsight Mourinho speaks in glowing terms about the former maverick saying he could write a book about the Italian’s antics.
ST- Samuel Eto’o
A star of Mourinho’s second Champions League triumph with Inter.
However whilst at Chelsea the two locked horns.
Jose left the Cameroonian fuming after saying, “He is 32, maybe 35 who knows.”
The following week Eto’o scored against Spurs and ran over to the corner flag to use as a walking stick, indicating that it perhaps wasn’t as serious as the media made out.
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