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This time in "Tribūna" - an article about one of the best football coaches of our time, London's "Chelsea" head coach, Portuguese Jose Mourinho, who very recently introduced you to "Barcelona" strategist Frank Rijkaard. Jose Mourinho is often compared to Napoleon, finding external similarities not only in stature. However, it's not the exterior that matters most - just like the Corsican lieutenant who rose to become the most famous military leader and Emperor of France, Mourinho, just a few years ago a little-known "Barcos" coach, became one of the most famous football specialists. He has proved that to be a brilliant coach, one does not need to be a football player themselves. You just need talent, understanding, and love for the game. And a lot of learning and hard work. You can criticize Mourinho's coached teams "Porto" or "Chelsea" however you want, but you have to admit that his teams play interesting, intelligent, and at the same time very rational football. Mourinho, like no one else, knows how to find the golden mean between cautious, closed, defensive football and attacking and even adventurous play. He imposes his style, his tactics on opponents, each of his players knows the precise frame and role, but each of them is given the freedom of improvisation. But also the responsibility for their actions. Who is he, this football Napoleon? In today's football, there is probably no personality talked about more than Mourinho. A little scruffy, wearing an open-collar and gray coat, in just three years, he shook the football world, winning championships, major tournaments. And how much more will he win... He is insatiable, he does not know and does not like to lose. He is always looking for new ideas, tactical schemes, and new people. He never looks for a back-up plan. But he finds enemies wherever and whenever he wants... His talent, his ambitions, always and everywhere supported by Abramovich's bottomless wallet. A terrible force has emerged in football... So, who is he? A demon or a genius? Napoleon... or a man tormented by the Napoleon complex? A man... without a past Jose Mario Dos Santos Mourinho Felix (Mourinho's full name) doesn't like to talk about his youth and family. He was born on January 26, 1963, in Setubal, Portugal. His father, Felix Mourinho, was a goalkeeper for "Vitoria" and later worked as a coach in several clubs in Portugal. Asking about Mourinho's grandfather is not worth it, as Jose's grandfather Mario Ledo was one of the oligarchs of Portugal, holding the country's entire fishing industry in his hands during the times of the dictator Salazar. The main source of income in Portugal - canned fish - was produced in his companies. However, as a true oligarch, his grandfather was actively involved in politics, so now Mourinho and his family members cringe, with some comparing him to a profascist dictatorship-era magnate, whose daughter married a football goalkeeper. By the way, the "De Bonfim" stadium, where Setubal's "Vitoria" plays and trains, is owned by the Mourinho family. Jose's mother inherited it when she married a "Vitoria" goalkeeper. Although Mourinho's grandfather was against his daughter marrying a football player, he still gave her, his beloved daughter, the stadium... His father really wanted young Jose to play football, but the boy preferred his mother's urging to become a manager. True, he was registered as a professional footballer in three matches in 1981, but he never appeared on the field. Wanting to prove to his family that "you can make a living in football without kicking a ball yourself," Mourinho enrolled at the Lisbon Physical Education Institute. After obtaining his diploma, he went to Edinburgh for a course organized by former Scotland national team coach Andy Roxburgh. There he learned English well (although he already spoke the language before, now he mastered the specific terminology), and most importantly - he met Bobby Robson. So, when Robson invited him to coach "Porto," Mourinho, as Robson's interpreter, took the young English-speaking Portuguese with him. In Portugal, working with "Porto" and the next season with "Sporting," they were jokingly referred to as "grandpa and grandson." The nickname remained with B. Robson and his interpreter - assistant when they went to coach the "Barcelona" team. With Robson, Barca won the Royal Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup, and a loss in the last round led to Real Madrid overtaking Barca in La Liga. This led to Robson stepping down, but Mourinho got a good opportunity to work with another celebrity next season - van Gaal. Mourinho - a coach "After working alongside famous coaches, I realized that I can work independently with teams," said Mourinho. Although "grandpa" Robson invited the "grandson" to "Newcastle," 37-year-old Mourinho decided to start his own career in 2000. And not just anywhere - at "Benfica." However, the activity of the young and arrogant coach who was unknown to anyone did not please the management of "Benfica." The next season, Mourinho started working in the province, with "Unio." Although his task was to keep the underdog in the Portuguese super league, the team unexpectedly finished fifth and even qualified to play in the UEFA Cup. "Mourinho's work caught the attention of Porto," where players like Deco, Costinha, Carvalho, and later Maniche, Mourinho's favorite from "Benfica," were part of the team. It is not necessary to remind you that during Mourinho's time, "Porto" may not have shined, but our compatriot Edgaras Jankauskas played for them... With "Porto," Mourinho was able to implement his famous formula for success: "Success is Motivation + Team + Ambitions + Fighting Spirit." The "Dragons" began to reap victories one after another - Portuguese champions, UEFA Cup winners... By the way, in the final match against "Celtic," which defeated not just anyone, but Barca, the famous Mourinho calculation came to light: the new "silver goal" rule had just been introduced. So, having played equally after regular time, "Porto" threw all their might into the attack during extra time, scored a goal, and... won the Cup. The next season, the "Porto," a team with a small budget and no stars, attempted to storm the higher peak - and again became champions and even Champions League winners. Perhaps it was in those 2004 years that the current opinion about Mourinho and the style of his coached teams was formed. In the semifinals, after losing to "Manchester United," the coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, expressed indignation: "The game played by "Porto" cannot be called football. We had to bow down to some bone breakers, thugs, and simulators." And in the final, "Porto" gracefully defeated the so beautifully playing "Monaco." Mourinho outsmarted the highly respected Didier Deschamps in every way. When the jubilant "Porto" players ran around the stadium with the trophy and took pictures, Mourinho, with a serious expression, did not smile. "He's performing theatrics again," some said. "It shows that he doesn't care about 'Porto' anymore, as he's already shaking hands with Abramovich," thought others. And in fact, during Mourinho's greatest triumph, what he cared about more was his family - just an hour before the final, a stranger called to warn Jose that if "Porto" won, his wife and children would be found dead... So you can understand what was going on inside the coach when his players lifted the Cup and how he hurried to call home when bewildered journalists tried to get an interview from him... Under the wing of Chukotka's governor After the triumph with "Porto," Mourinho awaited a much larger, more important, and better-paid job with "Chelsea." In fact, Roman Abramovich, having fired Ranieri, really wanted to see Eriksson at the helm of his toy, but the Swede politely declined every offer from the Chukotka governor. When Abramovich's patience ran out, he invited Mourinho to his luxurious yacht, which even had an anti-aircraft missile system among all the luxury "bumpers." For two days, Mourinho sailed in the warm sea with Abramovich until they reached an agreement. "I am not like Ranieri, who couldn't win anything in four years," Mourinho declared. "I am coming to London to win. With a team like 'Chelsea' and such support, we should only think about victories." The first triumph was not long in coming - a few months later, they won the League Cup. In the spring, "Chelsea" finally won the English championship after half a century - just in time for the club's 100th anniversary. In a year and a half of working with "Chelsea," Mourinho proved that he is a steadfast coach who does not succumb to the pressure of owners and the club players. As for the club's internal affairs - Mourinho managed to disagree with almost all of England's most famous club coaches. "We have the best fans, the best players, and the best, forgive me for being so open, coach," said J.Mourinho. - And we don't win because we have a lot of money, but because I work a lot..." This year, "Chelsea" is leading the way in England again, but for the second year in a row, they have not been successful in the Champions League. Mourinho's ego took a big hit when he faced Barcelona in the 1/8 finals of the Champions League. Although, as usual, Mourinho rushed to accuse his opponents of simulation and the UEFA referees of bias, the football world saw and recognized that Mourinho still has a lot to learn if he really wants to become the best in the world... By the way, after these lost matches, Mourinho sold his lucky charm - a gray Armani coat. The proceeds of 22 thousand pounds from the auction were donated to charity. Mourinho - a man Mourinho's wife's name is Matilda. Their daughter is also Matilda. Their son's name is Jose. But if the names are the same, how to avoid misunderstandings? Very simply - the elder Matilda is called Tami, the younger is called Tita, and the son is called Žuku. Jose himself is called Ze Mario at home. By the way, Mourinho is only so stern at work. "At home, the main coach is the mother," Jose once said... Mourinho's family lives in the prestigious Eton district of London. Their neighbors are the former UK Prime Minister Margarita Thatcher, the famous actor Sean Connery... and Roman Abramovich himself. "Stamford Bridge" is also nearby, so Mourinho walks to work every morning at exactly seven o'clock. Neighbors often see him walking with a German shepherd. The dog's name... Gullitas. So unusually, Mourinho named his dog not to offend the Dutch and "Milan" star, but out of respect for him as a former "Chelsea" coach. Since Jose Mourinho speaks rather quietly, during heated matches in the stadium, he passes instructions to his players in... writing. That way, the coach communicates not only with substitutes but also with players on the field. Notes with instructions for a specific player are handed to the players on the sidelines. Mourinho is known as a family man, but his reputation took a hit when a man rushed onto the field during the "Chelsea" - "Porto" match, wanting to attack Mourinho explained his behavior by saying that he wanted to avenge Jose, who was allegedly sending his wife inappropriate SMS messages. Although Mourinho is considered a sex symbol in England, former "Chelsea" player Mark Bosnich's girlfriend, model Sophie Anderton, claimed that Mourinho is just an unattractive guy. This is what Mourinho said... ... about football "I can only work with motivated players. A player who has lost motivation is a dead player." "I believe it's better to win a match 1-0 than to lose it 4-5." "If there is no discipline in the team, the coach's work is doomed to failure." "I don't understand what it means to have first-team and substitute players. I expect the game from all my players and try to get the most out of them. If I notice that any player has accepted his role as a substitute on the bench, I will immediately release him. I don't need players like that." "In England, it's easy to win away from home. After the matches, players shake hands, and the fans applaud them. In Portugal, a visiting team would simply be showered with bottles." "When Arsene Wenger starts talking about 'Chelsea,' he reminds me of... How to say it in English? A voyeur. Well, these are people who like to watch their neighbors' bedrooms with telescopes." ... about himself "Everyone has to do their job. If Roman Abramovich instructed me on how to play, 'Chelsea' would be an underdog. The same would happen if I took over his financial empire - it would immediately go bankrupt." "Chelsea became English champions not because of Abramovich's billions or the ability to buy any player. It became the champion only because I coach the team." "I have the right to be a little self-important just because I am the best coach in the world." "If I had wanted an easy life, I would have stayed at 'Porto.' Imagine: full grandstands of fans, one side of my leather armchair UEFA Cup, the other side Champions League, and in between the chair, like a throne - me. The second man after God..." "Everyone is just waiting for 'Chelsea' to lose. It seems that after each of our losses, national celebrations will be declared in England." Facts about Mourinho In his youth, he played as a defender and sweeper in semi-professional teams. In 1987, he completed UEFA coaching courses. 1990 - 1991 - Youth team of "Setubal", 1991-1992 - Second coach of "Estrella da Amadora," 1992 - 1994 - Assistant coach at "Sporting," 1994 - 1996 - Second coach at "Porto," 1996 - 2000 - Assistant coach and interpreter at "Barcelona," 2000 - "Benfica," 2001 - 2002 - "Unio Leiria," 2002 - 2004 - "Porto," From June 2, 2004 - "Chelsea." Wins: Portuguese champion 2003, 2004. Portuguese Cup and Supercup 2003. UEFA Cup 2003. Champions Cup 2004. English champion 2005. 2006 - English champion (?) 2007 - ??? P. S. After writing about Frank Rijkaard, I couldn't forget his complete opposite, Jose Mourinho. They are complete antagonists. Their duel is a clash of passion and rationality, improvisation and precise schemes, feelings and logic, ultimately - a clash of Black and White. I, despite my best efforts, could not remain completely objective when writing about Mourinho. So dear readers on EF.lt - be kind, and judge for yourselves...]
