Last night, Jose Mourinho became only the third manager to win the European Cup with two different teams by leading his Internazionale outfit to an ultimately comfortable victory over Bayern Munich: the first time Inter have ruled Europe since 1965. Added to the six league titles won in just seven full seasons in charge of Porto, Chelsea and Inter and the cluster of other cups (including UEFA and FA cups) in his locker, then the man from Setubal really has proven himself as a 'Special One'. But could he go on to become the greatest club manager of all time?
At the age of 47, he certainly has time on his hands to equal and overtake Bob Paisley's managerial record of three European Cups (all won with Liverpool). The master tactician is bound for the home dugout at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the scene of his most recent success. With the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain and Iker Casillas under his charge then it is certainly possible that he could walk away from next year's final venue Wembley with a second consecutive Champions League winner's medal under his belt but that will be easier said than done. When moving to Chelsea in 2004, Mourinho was handed what on paper, was a far superior squad to the one he had just led to success at Porto. Bringing in big money signings such as Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho to complement the likes of John Terry, Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard was a sure-fire route to domestic success but the continent proved harder to conquer. Defeated twice in the semi-finals by a fortuitous Liverpool and thoroughly outplayed in the last 16 by the Ronaldinho-inspired Barcelona side of 2006, the cup with the big ears proved elusive during his tenure at Stamford Bridge, and at Real Madrid he will face similar problems.
The biggest hurdle to overcome could be the presence of an opinionated, extremely powerful owner with sky high expectations. Failure to see eye-to-eye with Roman Abramovich saw a premature end to Mourinho's time in West London and in Los Blancos' President Florentino Perez, Mourinho will be faced with a character of similar ilk. The man with power at the nine-times European champions is as crazy about landing a tenth Champions League title as Abramovich is about landing Chelsea's first. The Real supremo isn't renowned for patience and after spending inconceivable amounts in the transfer window last summer, and still seeing his team knocked out in the last sixteen (for, as if anyone needs reminding, the SIXTH time in a row) and failing to overcome Barcelona in the Spanish league, current coach Manuel Pellegrini has been a dead man walking for a fair while. After ensuring the catalan team, so hated by the Madrilenos didn't make an appearance at the Bernabeu last night, Mourinho could well have more time on his hands than previous incumbents but the pressure on the club is second to none.
Failure to reach the Champions League final next year would instantly see the heat cranked up on Mourinho, and as much as he thrives on it, he still couldn't win the Champions League when at Chelsea. Furthermore, Madrid demand more than just success, sacking the likes of Fabio Capello and Vicente Del Bosque after title-winning seasons on the basis that the football style wasn't attractive. And Mourinho is certainly no Johan Cruyff when it comes to football style. Efficiency, organisation and power are the hallmarks of his teams and whether he can get this message across to Ronaldo et al and simultaneoulsy win over Perez's affections remains to be seen. If he does, and the team walks away as champions of Europe once again, then Mourinho, for sure, will be able to say he is the greatest club manager of all time.
Spot on James, good work mate.
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