From sprinting through the sprinklers at Camp Nou during the 2010 Champions League semifinals to conquering Pep Guardiola’s Messi-inspired Barcelona dynasty, José Mourinho has nearly done it all. The self-proclaimed “Special One,” who once entered his dressing room hidden in a laundry basket due to a stadium ban has come a long way from translating in press conferences and is regarded as one of the greatest managers ever.
Much of his success came in the 2000s when he won the Champions League with FC Porto and Inter Milan, while also dominating the Premier League with Chelsea FC. Such cross-continental success saw him add Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to his stellar club portfolio. His latest challenge emerged in Italy with AS Roma, but after three seasons, the Roman club has decided to part ways with him.
There is a notion that Mourinho’s footballing philosophy is outdated and incapable of success in today’s fast-paced, attack-driven game. His pragmatic style of promoting defensive discipline and clinical counterattacks doesn’t always produce beautiful football. But in his eyes, and for many, that assessment means nothing. Football is about results. About winning. And Mourinho’s teams won for over a decade. At his last two clubs, however, this consistency has been lost.
After a disappointing end to his short reign in North London with Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho looked to turn a new page at Roma. At Spurs, Mourinho lacked financial backing and wasn’t able to bring in appropriate talent for his system despite many claiming he had enough at his disposal — Son-Heung Min and Harry Kane to name a couple. At Roma, however, Mourinho was provided funds and was quick to bring in high-quality talent. A blend of youth and experience saw the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala and Houssem Aouar join Mourinho’s ranks.
According to renowned sports journalist Gabriele Marcotti, Mourinho’s dismissal was less in line with performance but more due to the club’s financial struggles. Roma’s losses reached $238.1 million in Mourinho’s debut season. The club’s major expenses came in transfer fees and wages, including Mourinho’s. The hope was to recover this amount through prize money from Europe’s elite club competition: The UEFA Champions League. Despite reaching two finals in the last three years, Roma has remained in 6th place in Serie A (only the top four qualify for the UCL). Such performance struggles, including a disappointing 1.61 points per game in Serie A, combined with financial strain have forced Roma to draw the curtains on their Mourinho era.
It’s hard to conclude if this was the right decision or not. After all, with a coach like Mourinho, a club’s profile rises immensely. As Juventus and the Milan clubs have dominated the last decade, with Napoli joining the pack in recent years, Roma has slowly slipped off the radar among the elite Italian teams. Mourinho alone provides a new platform: A sense of belief both for a large fanbase and a talented squad.
With club legend Daniele De Rossi stepping in as interim manager, the club is likely to maintain good form. After all, Mourinho has recruited elite talent. Despite being injury-prone, World Cup winner and former Serie A MVP Paulo Dybala serves as a dynamic focal point in midfield and a creative presence behind the relentless force of Lukaku. Roma’s next two fixtures are winnable matchups against Salernitana and Cagliari before hosting league favorite Inter Milan.
Mourinho’s future, however, is less certain. The Portuguese manager and his super agent, Jorge Mendes, will entertain offers from across Europe and overseas. Many believe the lucrative Saudi Pro League could be a potential destination but I feel Mourinho has unfinished business in Europe. Could he stay in Italy? Ninth place Napoli are in need of a resurgence and Mourinho is familiar with the task at hand. Due to Serie A rules, that project would only begin next season. A Premier League return seems like a stretch with some rumors linking him to Newcastle United. Eddie Howe has performed well and it would be surprising to see the Magpies let him go. And so the footballing world is made to wait in excitement and anticipation as Mourinho’s free agency allures owners and fans across the continent.
