Fenerbahce manager and former Roma boss Jose Mourinho has named the best player he would have loved to sign but could not.
In a quick question and answer session with TNT, the Portuguese tactician was grilled on 10 quick questions bordering on his managerial career and some aspects of his personal life.
When asked about his best player of all time that he would have wanted to sign but could not, the former Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Roma, and now Fenerbahce manager answered with a metaphor.
He said, “The little guy…the little guy was not coachable but in all honesty, he was the best.”
While there have been speculations on who Jose Mourinho’s “little guy” could be, some sleuthing football fans claim it is Inter Miami forward and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.
Some fans referenced the Portuguese’s interview in which he mentioned ‘the no.10 of Barcelona’ as the best in the world.
Another Argentina football legend Diego Maradona was also mentioned as the potential “little guy” but such a suggestion was dead on arrival because Diego Maradona retired before Jose Mourinho settled for a great managerial career across top clubs in Europe.
So, “the little guy,” was literally Lionel Messi. Lionel is regarded as one of the best footballers, if not the best, to have graced the round leather sport.
With vintage individual performances, Messi boasts a terrific career in club and international football.
When asked about his greatest sports personality of all time, Jose mentioned Jesse Owens. Jesse Owens was an Alabama-born American track and field athlete. Owen’s athletic career peaked in 1936 when he won four Gold Medals for the United States in the 1936 Olympic Games. He died on March 31, 1986, at the age of 66.
Mourinho was also queried on the best player he has managed. Responding to the query, the 61-year-old quickly skimmed through a list of some of the best players he has managed.
He mentioned Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Xabi Alonso, and others before refusing to state who was the best among them.
On his best football stadium, the San Siro in Milan was his choice. On his favourite trophy he has won, he mentioned the 2022 Conference League title he won with AS Roma.
On a football moment he would never forget, Mourinho mentioned ‘Champions League semi-final loss with a goal that was not a goal.’
Here, Jose Mourinho was apparently making reference to the referee’s controversial decision to award a spot-kick to Bayern Munich during his side Real Madrid’s 2012 Champions League semi-final second leg at Santiago Bernabeu.
Cristiano Ronaldo had fired the hosts into a 2-0 lead before the half-hour to chalk off and overturn Bayern’s 2-1 lead from the first leg. Bayern would then fight back to draw the game level on aggregate in the 77th minute. Pepe was alleged to have fouled Mario Gomez in the Real Madrid box and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Arjen Robben would then beat Iker Casillas to make it 2-1.
The game was later decided on penalties with Bayern Munich winning 4-3 to progress to the final and win the competition.
On clubs that he has managed with a great fanbase, Mourinho mentioned his last club – Roma – before he joined Fenerbahce.
According to him, Giallorossi have the best fanbase, who show strong passion for the club.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma deadlock and Fenerbahce role
Mourinho was sacked as Roma manager following the club’s dismal run in Italy’s domestic competitions. Roma fans protested Mourinho’s sack, holding up banners and flags in Roma’s first match after the Portuguese’s dismissal to express their solidarity with the veteran manager.
Mourinho is now Fenerbahce manager. He joined the Turkish side as new manager on June 1, 2024 and was unveiled to thousands of Fenerbahce fans the next day.
Jose Mourinho Fenerbahce contract and salary
Mourinho agreed a two-year contract with Fenerbahce till 2026. Sources close to the club reveal he will earn roughly $11.4 per year with the club.
