Updated at 11.07
AFTER JOSE MOURINHO was confirmed as Man United manager yesterday, we revisit some of the Special One’s most memorable quotes…
“Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.”
And thus a star was born. Mourinho introduced himself to the English press with arguably his most famous line, as he responded to doubts that he was not suitable to work in the Premier League.
“If they made a film of my life, I think they should get George Clooney to play me. He’s a fantastic actor and my wife thinks he would be ideal.”
Mourinho is A-list material in his own right, but left everyone in no doubt as to who his wife would like to see on the big screen in a Jose biopic.
“For me, pressure is bird flu. I’m feeling a lot of pressure with the problem in Scotland. It’s not fun and I’m more scared of it than football.”
Calmness in the face of adversity? Not if adversity is bird flu evidently, as Mourinho quelled talk that his Chelsea side would struggle to see out their title defence in 2006.
“What position is my wife in? Eighth at least.”
Behind every great man is a great woman, even a man who was surveyed as the ninth most influential man in the world.
“Look, I’m a coach, I’m not Harry Potter. He is magical, but in reality there is no magic. Magic is fiction and football is real.”
Mourinho warned Real Madrid fans not to expect him to wave a magic wand to bring trophies to the club.
(Then-FC Porto manager Jose Mourinho celebrates his team’s 1-1 draw and progression to the quarter finals after the UEFA Champions League match at Old Trafford - Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association Images)
“You would be sad if your team gets as clearly dominated by opponents who have been built on 10 percent of the budget.”
Rubbing salt into Alex Ferguson’s wounds, after his Porto side knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League.
“I think he is one of those people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families.”
One of Mourinho’s more ill-advised comments, when responding to Arsene Wenger’s criticism of his Chelsea side. A remark which he would later apologise for.
“Sometimes you see beautiful people with no brains. Sometimes you have ugly people who are intelligent, like scientists.”
A metaphor to describe the state of the Stamford Bridge pitch, ahead of a UEFA Champions League tie with Barcelona in 2006.
“I would love an Aston Martin but if you ask me one million pounds for an Aston Martin, I tell you, you are crazy because they cost 250,000 pounds.”
Mourinho describing how Chelsea would not be paying over-the-odds in the transfer market.
“I am Jose Mourinho and I don’t change. I arrive with all my qualities and my defects.”
Upon his arrival at Real, Mourinho said he will never change his approach. He has stayed true to his word.
“I have nothing to say!”
Mourinho wasn’t giving much away after watching his side lose 3-1 to Liverpool last August.
A version of this post was originally published on 20 May, 2013.
What’s your favourite Mourinho quote? Let us know in the comments section below.
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They have some neck.
@Patrick Breen: Could still go to the DRA after this and maybe even a court case, who knows?
@Patrick Breen: they’re dead right. Why not just replay the last free again, the idea they have to replay the whole game is a fair solution is madness.
@Paul Mallon: the fact that they blatantly cheated and think they should get away with it is madness.
@Paul Mallon: replay the last free, seriously. So we’ll just make up a new sport..
@Patrick Breen: the more I think about this I’ve changed my mind from it’s 100% a replay to it only warrants a fine! Realistically the chances of a goal with the last kick of the game is unlikely, especially when it’s a 45 with the packed defence fully set up. And it’s telling that the referee allowed the 45 to be taken before the substitutions had been complete properly – Kilmacud will argue that as the subs were not being managed correctly! Players off players on before 45 can take place – clearly ref was going to allow it be taken quickly which added to the panic & confusion. In my view KMc won this game and an extra man on for 24secs over 70+ mins had NO bearing on the outcome. If this was reversed I don’t general public wud be questioning if Glen won it
@BMJF: It’s not really about the likelihood of a goal. Nobody knows what effect the 16th player had, direct or indirect, even as a distraction to the player in possession. The real issue is what happens if there’s no real sanction. Teams will be making substitutions and making sure the player being replaced is at least very slow leaving the pitch. Now we see Glen have pulled out of the appeals process because a replay is unworkable.
@BMJF: especially when it’s an overpacked defence.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: don’t be silly. The GAA will simply learn to make substitutions like every other sporting organisation!! That’s what will happen. Play will pause before a free is taken etc and Players will have to come off before the replacements go on and ref won’t restart the game until they’re in position. It’s not rocket science. GAA should have accepted some responsibility, read their rules and issued a hefty fine the next morning and that would have been the end of it
I’d watch a live stream of that hearing
Hope they throw the book at them and just award the final to the other team.
@Reggie: haha, don’t know about that now Reg. Certainly interested to hear what their grounds for appeal will be though…..seems cut and dried to me that the rule was broken and one of the consequences have been invoked.
The tone of the anti Kilmacud comments is telling. An anti Dub vibe off them. I’m guessing that If this was reversed and Glen had 16 men for 24secs over a 70+ min game, defending a 2point lead with last play of the game, the general public wud be saying that on balance Glen should remain the winners, and that the extra man for 24 secs didn’t really impact the outcome! But because it’s a big Dub club everyone has knickers in a knot!!
If GAA had issued a fine quickly I think Glen would have accepted the result , as their manager did straight after the game
@BMJF: I would say the opposite, the Ulster team (as always) are being portrayed as the bad guys here… maybe I’m wrong
Kilmacud won fair and square on the field of play. Glen will be looked upon as sore losers. There’s no way Kilmacud will replay the match. They are prepared to hand the cup over to Glen. If the Glen club wants to avoid the lasting legacy of poor losers they really should withdraw the objection and gear themselves up to trying to win the title next year on the field of play. That would give the club a lot of respect.
@Brendan Daniel Naughton: ‘fair and square’, hahahaha, are you well.
Great stuff