Following his antics during Real Madrid’s defeat to Barcelona last night, we decided to take a look back at five examples of Jose Mourinho acting the arse the during his eventful career.
Jose Mourinho was up to his old antics as Real Madrid fell to a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, pinching a Barcelona official and making a rude gesture towards Lionel Messi in yet another encounter between the fierce rivals that was dogged by controversy.
As much as he should be admired for his achievements in the game, it can’t be argued that Mourinho has acted like a right clown at times. Here are five of his less finer moments.
The infamous touchline sprint at Old Trafford
The Special One came to the world’s attention on the back of Porto’s successful Champions League campaign in 2004, which included some classic examples of what has become typical Mourinho behaviour in the years since.
Following a late goal which earned an aggregate victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals, Mourinho sprinted down the touchline towards the Porto support in celebration in a manner which absolutely enraged Alex Ferguson, as was evident in Old Red Nose’s aggressive post-match handshake.
Names Barcelona team in press conference
Despite his association with the club during the Bobby Robson era, Mourinho’s bitter relationship with Barcelona is not limited to his time in charge of Real Madrid; it dates back further than that. Before Pep Guardiola, Mourinho enjoyed a similarly acrimonious relationship with Frank Rijkaard, which reached a nadir prior to a Champions League knockout clash between Barcelona and Chelsea in 2005.
Quizzed about injuries to his players during a pre-match press conference, Mourinho proceeded to not only name the Chelsea team, but what he predicted to be the Barcelona team as well. In an age where a team’s personnel and tactics are guarded with a Fort-Knox like security, it was a remarkable display of arrogance and yet another example of an underhand attempt to undermine his opposite number.
In any case, it worked as the Blues triumphed over the Catalans 5-4 on aggregate. Karma came back to bite the Special One, however, as Chelsea were beaten by Liverpool in the semi-final, thanks largely due to the ‘ghost goal’ scored by Luis Garcia.
Gloats after Inter win over Barcelona
After guiding Inter to a Champions League semi-final victory over you’ve guessed it, Barcelona, in 2010, Mourinho couldn’t resist rubbing the win in the face of his former employers and upon hearing the final whistle, ran Alan Shearer-like with his hand pointed in the air all the way across the hallowed Nou Camp turf.
Once again, the celebration was all about him, as he neglected to stop and congratulate the players that had implemented his well orchestrated defensive tactics to the letter.
His gloating attracted the ire of Barca ‘keeper Victor Valdes, who only temporarily succeeded in putting a halt in his gallop. Mourinho and the Inter players soon had to postpone their on-field celebrations, however, as the spoilsports at Barca quickly activated the sprinklers to ensure that their public gloating was short-lived.
Instructs players to get booked on purpose
4-0 up and cruising in a Champions League clash with Ajax last year, Real Madrid were on their way to the knockout stages as group winners regardless of their result in the final group game against Auxerre.
Realising that a couple of his players were on yellow cards and that another would rule them out of that meaningless tie, Mourinho ordered Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos to get deliberately booked. They did so, but in an embarrassing fashion that made you wonder whether it was the intention of the manager that his players would get cautioned so blatantly that it would instantly attract attention, which is something of an addiction for the Special One.
Mercifully, UEFA charged Mourinho for his actions, even though it has done precious little to affect his touchline behaviour since.
Stays in hotel for Champions League semi-final
There is a scene in The Damned United, the biopic of Brian Clough which blends elements of truth with some fictional flights of fantasy, which shows him refusing to go to the dugout and instead remain in the dressing room for a Derby County match.
If there is anyone to match the late, great Cloughie for sheer egotism, it is Mourinho and he did something similar prior to the second leg of Real Madrid’s ill-tempered clash with Barcelona last year. Banned from the touchline for inflammatory comments made after the first leg defeat at the Bernabeu, Mourinho elected to not even attend the second leg at the Nou Camp and watched the game from the team hotel instead.
Once again, Mourinho brought all the attention upon himself, which is a shame as his players showed admirable fight and determination in their attempts to claw back what looked like an insurmountable first leg deficit.
