Jose Mourinho’s managerial career stands at the crossroads after his sacking by Manchester United, but is the ‘Special One’ now yesterday’s man?
Mourinho can take his place as one of management’s greats after winning the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, and enjoying silver-lined spells in charge of Chelsea, Real Madrid and United.
But are Mourinho’s colourful and controversial glory days as one of the game’s elite coaches now over?
Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford was heavily laced with accusations the modern game – in the shape of managers such as Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool – had left the 55-year-old Portuguese behind.
And games in opposition to Guardiola and Klopp that are fresh in the memory intensify the image Mourinho, once the trailblazer, is light years behind the modernisers.
Guardiola’s City outclassed their neighbours two months ago, and it was symbolic that the sight of United cowering as Klopp’s Liverpool blew them away at Anfield on Sunday was the final straw.
The intense, attacking, easy-on-the-eye approaches of Guardiola, Klopp, and Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, have been used as sticks to beat what is regarded as Mourinho’s more pragmatic strategy.
In Mourinho’s defence, it should be stated he won more trophies in his first season at United (the League Cup and the Europa League) than Klopp or Pochettino have in their whole time at Liverpool and Spurs – indeed they are still waiting for their first trophies in England.
Football’s landscape moves swiftly, however, and while that trio are fresh and innovative, Mourinho has cut a tired, careworn, negative figure out of touch with their vibrant approach.
So is it fair to say he is now yesterday’s man?
The narrative surrounding Mourinho’s decline at both Chelsea and United has involved friction – and often friction with star players.
Michael Emenalo, Chelsea’s technical director when Mourinho was sacked in December 2015, lifted the lid on problems behind the scenes when he said: “There obviously seemed to be a palpable discord between manager and players and we felt it was time to act.”
Mourinho’s dealings with Chelsea forward Eden Hazard were often seen as one of the difficulties there, and the manager’s relationship with midfielder Paul Pogba has provided a constant backdrop to the unrest at Old Trafford.