Top 10 most iconic Jose Mourinho quotes

The Special One has given plenty of exemplary press conferences in his time.

Jose Mourinho has entertained and provided us with extraordinary football moments. His proactive approach has propelled several clubs to glory, and the Portuguese is the first manager in football history to win all European Cups.

Mourinho's fame soared after he led a subpar Porto team to the Champions League title. Since then, he became a revelation in European football and his status skyrocketed. It also made him one of the most prominent managers in European football. This led to every major club wanting him as their manager and what he achieved with his clubs further augmented his managerial resume.

He has won titles with every European club he has managed so far. But, besides his reputation, his football antics have given fans enormous entertainment over the years, and his touchline brawls with managers truly give him special status as a manager in Europe.

But what has been most entertaining about Mourinho are his comments and press conferences. Here, we will look at his top 10 best and most funny quotes. 

10. Mourinho on Conte’s touchline behaviour

'I prefer to behave the way I'm doing it. Much more mature, better for my team, better for myself. I don't think you have to behave like a wild guy on the touchline to have that passion. That passion you see it every day, the way a person is dedicated to his work, not what you do in front of the cameras.'

Mourinho found his new adversary when Tottenham faced Chelsea. The former Tottenham manager did not like the celebration of Antonio Conte when Chelsea overcame Manchester United in a thrilling 4-0 match. The AS Roma manager felt Conte’s celebration was humiliating for him and both gaffers were involved in the war of words ever since.

9. Mourinho on Arsene Wenger

“If he is right and I am afraid of failure it is because I didn’t fail many times. Eight years without silverware, that’s a failure. He’s a specialist in failure. If I do that in Chelsea, eight years, I leave and don’t come back.”

In every press conference, Mourinho and Arsene Wenger went head on. They became famous with football trolls and it seemed that both managers had started to almost hate each other.

8. After clashing with Arsene Wenger

“I think he is one of these 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. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea”

When social media went bonkers, as Mourinho and Arsene Wenger collided on the touchline, it became one of the most famous bickerings in football, and from there, both managers started criticizing each other’s approach to the game.  

7. Lack of funds available to him to buy new players

“It is omelets and eggs. No eggs – no omelets! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket, you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelets. So, when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem”

The 59-year-old was agitated after not receiving his preferred players during a transfer window as the board’s lack of funds to acquire players led to Mourinho exposing the board in a press conference.

6. On how he will leave Chelsea

“There are only two ways for me to leave Chelsea. One way is in June 2010 when I finish my contract and if the club doesn’t give me a new one. The second way is for Chelsea to sack me. The way the manager left the club by deciding to walk away, no chance! I will never do this to Chelsea supporters” 

Later, the former Chelsea manager was sacked after his poor start to the season.

5. Responding to Chelsea fan’s criticism

“When they have somebody that wins four Premier Leagues for them, I become number two. Until this moment Judas is number one.”

One of Mourinho’s most memorable responses to fans during the press conference.

4. Mourinho comments on North London Derby between Tottenham and Arsenal, which ended in 5-4

“That was not a football score, it was a hockey score…in training, I often play matches of three against three and when the score reaches 5-4 I send the players back to the dressing room because they are not defending properly.”

Mourinho’s style of play has always been to park the bus after scoring a goal in a match. With Chelsea, he had one of the best defensive records as he won the Premier League.

3. Mourinho on his injury crisis in 2007

“It is like having a blanket that is too small for the bed. You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. “I cannot buy a bigger blanket because the supermarket is closed. But I am content because the blanket is cashmere. It is no ordinary blanket.”

2. The Special One comment

“We have top players and, sorry if I’m arrogant, we have a top manager. Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m a European champion and I think I’m a Special One.”

You cannot deny why he’s the Special One, having won every possible trophy in Europe.

1. After drawing with Real Mallorca in his first game as Real Madrid manager

“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.”

Subsequently, Mourinho went on to win a lot of trophies with Real Madrid and from there, Mourinho’s first managerial rivalry started with Guardiola.