'It could have been 7, 8, 9...' Jose Mourinho picks the perfect match from his managerial career, which came in a dominant performance against one of his former sides

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho picks his best games (Image credit: Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho is a serial winner, having lifted over 20 trophies in a career that has seen him manage Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma.

Picking the perfect match from his 20-plus years as a manager, therefore, is a difficult one. There have been multiple high-profile matches Mourinho has been involved in, with plenty standing out for the Portuguese boss.

Now 61 and managing Fenerbahce in Turkey, Mourinho eventually manages to find the answer he was looking for - though one involves one of his former sides in what proved a dominant display.

Jose Mourinho picks the perfect match of his career

Jose Mourinho meets the media at his presentation as Fenerbahce coach in June 2024.

Mourinho now manages in Turkey (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Hard to answer…", Mourinho told Corriere dello Sport when asked what the perfect match he's managed in is.

"Porto vs Lazio, 4-1, 2002/03 UEFA Cup semi-final. They scored after 50 seconds and didn’t touch the ball after that. Inter vs Bayern, 2-0 [2010 Champions League final], after a minute we already knew who would win.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal with his team mates during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 04, 2020 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Oli Scarff - Pool/Getty Images) Jose Mourinho

Tottenham celebrate beating Man United 6-1 (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Manchester United vs Tottenham, 1-6 [2020/21 Premier League] and it could have been 7, 8, 9. It’s equally difficult not to find a perfect match in my Chelsea who ate up the Premier League."

That 6-1 win inflicted embarassment on then-Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who replaced Mourinho in the Old Trafford dugout a few years prior. Though Bruno Fernandes managed to give the hosts the lead after just two minutes, Spurs were in the lead by the seventh minute and then dominated once Anthony Martial was sent off in the 28th.

As Mourinho suggests, a number of games during his time at Chelsea would certainly qualify, especially considering how resolute defensively they were.

In FourFourTwo's opinion, though, the 2004 Champions League final victory over Monaco for Porto is hard to look past. Not only did it prove his credentials having already knocked out Manchester United earlier in the competition, but it catapulted him onto the world stage.

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future. 

Read more
New Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho during a press conference, June 2004
Quiz! Can you get 100% in our big Jose Mourinho quiz?
Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho has indicated he may be on his way back to the UK
Jose Mourinho reveals Celtic and Rangers interest, amid talk of his next job
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
'Mourinho called and said, "You want to play for me?" I said, "Yes sir". He replied, "I'll see you in Milan tomorrow" then put the phone down - I signed for Inter the next day': How Jose Mourinho easily persuaded Premier League star to make Serie A move
Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson share a joke during the David Beckham Match for Children in aid of UNICEF at Old Trafford in November 2015.
Managers who won European trophies at two clubs
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - DECEMBER 20: Coach Jose Mourinho of Fenerbahce during the Turkish Super League match between Eyupspor and Fenerbahce at Kasimpasa Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium on December 20, 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Seskim Photo/MB Media/Getty Images) Graeme Souness
‘I’ve never known whether to laugh or cry when it comes to Jose Mourinho’s antics, but I miss him. The Premier League’s loss is Turkey’s gain, without a doubt’: Graeme Souness would still like to see Mourinho managing in England
Rafael Benitez scratches his chin while managing Everton, 2021
Managers who managed more than one club in the same city
Latest in Stories
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to sanction plenty of sales this summer
When does the summer transfer window open?
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Latest in News
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Jack Grealish
Manchester City report: Jack Grealish poised for European switch, with price revealed