José Mourinho: 20 facts about the Special One you wouldn’t believe

• TheRadar has compiled in this article notable facts about Portuguese coach José Mourinho
• José Mourinho, known as “The Special One,” has led top teams across Europe to championship titles, carving a legendary career for himself
• Notably, his journey began humbly as an interpreter for Sir Bobby Robson, and he is now the only manager to have won all three of UEFA’s club competition trophies

José Mourinho, famously known as “The Special One,” has become a legendary figure in football, known as much for his wit as for his coaching genius. This Portuguese coach has led teams across four different leagues to championship glory, adding an unmatched charisma along the way. 

He’s also one of only a select few managers to have won the Champions League with two different clubs, and he’s the only one to have clinched all three of UEFA’s club competition trophies. Now leading Fenerbahçe in Turkey’s Süper Lig, Mourinho continues to be just as interesting as ever.

Facts about Portuguese coach José Mourinho

TheRadar has compiled below 20 impressive facts about Coach José Mourinho:

1. A Unique sobriquet: Mourinho coined his famous nickname, “The Special One,” and remains one of the most distinct personalities in football. “The Special One” became synonymous with Jose Mourinho after his first Chelsea press conference in 2004, where he confidently introduced himself as a special one.

2. The legendary offer: In 2004, he revealed he declined an opportunity to be Sir Bobby Robson's assistant at Newcastle, preferring to forge his own path.

3. Translator to top coach: Starting as Sir Bobby Robson’s interpreter at Sporting CP, Porto, and Barcelona, Mourinho built a career that would later outshine his mentor.

4. Headway at Porto: In 2004, he led Porto to a UEFA Champions League title, which caught the attention of top European clubs.

5. Press recognition: Spanish Rolling Stone magazine named him “Rockstar of the Year” in 2011, praising his charismatic nature.

6. Multi-lingual skills: Fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, and French, Mourinho credits his language skills with helping him connect with players.

7. Banned yet resourceful: Banned from contact with Chelsea players during the 2004/05 Champions League quarterfinals, he allegedly hid in a laundry basket to communicate with the team.

8. Started from scratch: Mourinho started as a physical education teacher in Portugal before fully committing to a coaching career.

9. Business school dropout: Mourinho’s mother enrolled him in business school, but he quit on his first day to pursue coaching.

10. Passionate about perfection: His mother noticed Mourinho’s attention to detail began at a young age, long before he became a coach.

11. Another nickname: Known as “The Translator” by some, Mourinho dismisses the label, emphasising his skills as a coach rather than a linguist.

12. Police problems: He received a police caution in 2007 after resisting authorities attempting to quarantine his dog due to vaccination concerns.

13. Personal chronicles: In 2004, he attempted to prevent the release of “Jose Mourinho- Made in Portugal”, a biography that revealed private family details.

14. Numerous awards: Mourinho has been named Manager of the Year across Portugal, England, and Italy, and won FIFA's inaugural World Coach of the Year in 2010.

15. Humanitarian efforts: He donated a jacket to a Tsunami Relief auction in 2005, raising over €25,800 for charity.

16. Academic recognition: In 2009, Mourinho received an honorary doctorate from Lisbon Technical University for his contributions to football.

17. Statesman of the year: In 2005, the New Statesman recognised him as “New Statesman of the Year” for balancing family and work life.

18. Coaching success: Although his career began in translation, Mourinho’s tactical brilliance quickly made him a respected manager.

19. Record-setting sales: Jose Mourinho- “Made in Portugal” sold over 15,000 copies despite his objections.

20. Impressive charity work: Mourinho’s auctioned memorabilia, including a rare Stamford Bridge print, raised significant funds for charitable causes, totalling over £545,000.

How Mourinho's laptop protest on touchline landed him in trouble with officials

Previously, TheRadar reported that after a Fenerbahçe goal was disallowed for offside, Mourinho, visibly irritated, approached the fourth official, but instead of engaging in verbal communication, he carried his laptop toward the VAR camera. 

The manager then placed the laptop on top of the VAR equipment, intending to show the officials a replay of the controversial decision. Referee Cihan Aydin, a regular in Champions League officiating, wasn’t swayed by the unorthodox protest and swiftly brandished a yellow card for his drama.