#360view: Mourinho deserves to be regarded as one of football's greatest

Alam Khan - Reporter 03:49 20/04/2015
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  • Forget the hard work, the humility or any ‘holistic’ approach, the measure of a manager is trophies. Prizes determine greatness.

    Sir Alex Ferguson is the British master given his unprecedented haul of 49 in a 39-year career at Aberdeen and Manchester United.

    There is admiration too for his ability to rebuild and reinvent the Old Trafford side in recent years, especially when changes in the game saw many “old-school” bosses find it difficult to move with the times. But Ferguson never challenged himself at another club after United, nor in foreign climes. 

    Just as in the debate about whether Pele or Diego Maradona is the greatest footballer, the latter is lauded for plying his trade in the tougher Spanish and Italian leagues with Barcelona and Napoli.

    At 52, Jose Mourinho currently has 21 trophies to his name, and has won domestic leagues in four different countries – Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.

    He is now on the verge of a third Premier League championship with Chelsea, nine shy of Sir Alex’s mark, but can stand proudly alongside the Scot in terms of achievement, if not accolades.

    Wins in the next two games will confirm the landmark and one highlighting Mourinho’s mindset.

    In Saturday’s 1-0 win over United, he said they made their “important players disappear”. And, in nullifying the opposition’s strengths and grinding out victories, he is a managerial magician.

    There is a book on him that is rather apt – Anatomy of a Winner. Ever since he led Porto to surprise Champions League glory in 2004, he has been a serial winner.

    Leading clubs turn to him if they want success, not to be the finest footballing team or be loved by all. Dull or negative tactics won’t matter when his side are the undisputed No1, and it will be an example for others to follow.

    His track record is one to be envied, feared and revered. He is a man for the big jobs and big occasions. Mourinho has done it his way too, not afraid of upsetting big names or the club’s followers.

    Just as Ferguson ditched David Beckham and Roy Keane, the Portuguese had the courage to cash in on Player of the Year Juan Mata and allow club legend Frank Lampard to leave. He makes tough calls – and stands by them.

    He believes in his methods and he gives belief to his players. They trust – and they triumph. Of course, the histrionics, the conspiracy theories, the mind games and the battles with authority can grate a bit and stain his character. But it is part of his personality and some managers need that edge, and reasons to rouse themselves and their players.

    By adopting a siege mentality and claiming there was a campaign against Chelsea when Diego Costa was banned for three games in January, it united his team. Togetherness and talent have since proved too much for their foes.

    Some might wonder if Mourinho will have the same drive and desire next season. But that will remain until he leads Chelsea to Champions League glory.

    He is one short of Carlo Ancelotti’s record of three and the ambitious Mourinho will not just want to match, but beat that mark. He is far from finished.

    And when he is, he deserves to be regarded as the world’s best-ever. The proof should be in performance as well as the history books.

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