Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest managers to grace the game, with The Special One among the most decorated managers in the history of football.
Mourinho has managed in Portugal, England, Spain and Italy, winning 39 trophies in his career, including two Portuguese league titles, two Serie A titles, one La Liga, three Premier League titles, two UEFA Champions League trophies and four World’s Best Club Coach awards.
Jose has seen successful for more than 20 years, with the now Roma coach revolutionising the way the game has been played, providing his own unique philosophy to European football.
The term “Mourinho masterclass” should be familiar to all football fans, referencing the tactical genius of the Portuguese icon.
After Jose left Manchester United in 2018, he appeared on Sky Sports as a pundit. Below he explains key examples of not only his managerial philosophy, but how to build the fundamentals of a successful team.
PRINCIPLES OF PLAY
“One thing is tactical systems, another thing is principles of play. Principles of play have to be permanent.” – Jose Mourinho
Example of a Principle:
“All the good teams they defend compact… It’s just a basic principle; you have to defend compact.” pic.twitter.com/KNGF1BPjBl
— David Garcia (@IJaSport) April 3, 2023
Defending has been the foundation of Mourinho’s success, with all of his accomplishments coming with a resolute and compact defensive structure. His first reign at Chelsea still holds the record for the best defence in a Premier League season, conceding just 15 goals in 38 games.
PHASES OF THE GAME
“A top team has to be complete in the four moments of the game. Possession, non-possession, defensive transition, attacking transition. You can be an attacking team, you can be a less attacking team, you have to be good in every moment. That’s a basic thing." pic.twitter.com/xkWK6dP7e5
— David Garcia (@IJaSport) April 3, 2023
Mourinho goes on to discuss how the values of a manager are vital, but they must evolve to accommodate the context they operate within. It is the manager’s job to use the players at his disposal in combination with a specific philosophy to find success.
Neville: “Does the training program always start with the same principle? Is it a defensive principle or attacking principle or do you mix them both equally?"
Mourinho: “Both equally.”
He's been saying this throughout the interview; 'You have to be good in every moment.' pic.twitter.com/V6opmUOwB2
— David Garcia (@IJaSport) April 3, 2023