One of the most prodigious and well-respected football coaches in contemporary history is José Mourinho. Throughout his career, he has won multiple titles and awards thanks to his outstanding leadership abilities and capacity to motivate his team. But in addition to his tactical prowess, Mourinho is renowned for his motivational speeches.
Several of the greatest and most prominent clubs in Europe, such as Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma have been managed by him. Mourinho has established himself as one of the most successful coaches of all time with the numerous titles and trophies he has collected throughout the course of his career.
Some of the significant team trophies he has won are listed below:
- UEFA Champions League (2): with Porto (2003-2004) and Inter Milan (2009-2010)
- UEFA Cup/Europa League (2): with Porto (2002-2003) and Manchester United (2016-2017)
- UEFA Europa Conference League (1): with Roma (2021-2022)
- Premier League (3): with Chelsea (2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2014-2015)
- La Liga (1): with Real Madrid (2011-2012)
- Serie A (2): with Inter Milan (2008-2009, 2009-2010)
His most prominent individual awards are as follows:
- FIFA World Coach of the Year (1): 2010
- Premier League Manager of the Season (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2014–15
- Serie A Coach of the Year (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
- UEFA Manager of the Year (2): 2002–03 and 2003–04
- Portuguese Coach of the Century (1): 2015
This piece will examine some of Mourinho’s most motivational football quotes, which provide us with an understanding of his leadership philosophy. If you’re a fan of football as a sport or of betting on football, which is a side activity that’s inseparable from this sport, at reliable and rich in offer – these are favoured at Bookmaker-Expert.com, which is known as a trustworthy bookie rating platform – online operators or just looking for motivation in your own life, Mourinho’s remarks will undoubtedly have an influence. Now let’s explore and unearth the gems of wisdom that “The Special One” (the nickname given to him by the British media) has to offer.
Top 19 quotes from Mourinho
# 19 When Mourinho was first named manager of Real Madrid in 2010
“I am José Mourinho and I don’t change. I arrive with all my qualities and my defects.”
# 18 Mourinho stands up for Ronaldo following Portugal’s 2010 World Cup exit
“In my teams, when we win, we all win, and when we lose, I lose – so Ronaldo can relax and enjoy his holidays.”
# 17 Mourinho acknowledging that Chelsea’s 2011–12 Campaign wasn’t entirely flawless
“We all want to play great music all the time, but if that is not possible, you have to hit as many right notes as you can.”
# 16 Mourinho stated in 2009, upon receiving the Doctorate Honoris Causa degree
“The world is so competitive, aggressive, selfish and during the time we spend here we must be all but that.”
# 15 While waiting to hear from the FA over his potential punishment for referring to Wigan’s Lee McCulloch as a “cheat” in 2005
“If criticism were ferocious and without intellectual objectivity they should show me the way to their airport. It is important to have an opinion and not be afraid to express it, knowing there will be criticism.”
# 14 Mourinho about cleverness and stupidity in football
“Football is a game based on emotion and intelligence. Anyone can be clever; the trick is not to think the other guy is stupid.”
# 13 Following a demanding season of Premier League football, Mourinho seemed a little perplexed in 2005
“The moral of the story is not to listen to those who tell you not to play the violin but stick to the tambourine.”
# 12 Mourinho’s satirical 2019 remarks about the reality of world football, where success is determined by transfer window spending
“Money does not guarantee success.”
# 11 Mourinho portraying his competitiveness
“I prefer to play against the best players and the best teams and the best coaches.”
# 10 Mourinho hinting at Chelsea’s issues in his first interview after being fired in 2016
“I can have everything I love at the same time. I can have my family, I can have my friends, and I can have my quiet life, which I also like. I can have my football, and I can have everything together, and I don't need to give up one to be better than what I am.”
# 9 Mourinho reminded everyone that it’s all just a game during his Chelsea days
“Pressure? What pressure? Pressure is poor people in the world trying to feed their families. There is no pressure in football.”
# 8 Before the 2010 Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, Mourinho made this statement
“You have to work hard and well. There are a lot of people who work hard but not well.”
# 7 Mourinho claims that no amount of jeers will cause him to quit his position at Manchester United in 2018.
“I’m not afraid to lose my job, and when you’re not afraid, you don’t feel any pressure. You are not too worried; you can express yourself in a different way. It makes you better, I think.”
# 6 The quote from Mourinho’s first-ever Chelsea press conference in 2004
“I hate to speak about individuals. Players don’t win you trophies, teams win trophies, squads win trophies.”
# 5 Mourinho on the importance of teamwork
“To be the ultimate team, you must use your body and your mind. Draw up on the resources of your teammates. Choose your steps wisely and you will win. Remember, only teams succeed.”
# 4 Mourinho revealed that John Terry was still enjoying his football in 2014
“The most important part of everything is to be happy.”
# 3 Mourinho told his Chelsea players that they were betraying his work after losing to Leicester in 2015
“I don’t know another way than to work at the top level, which is what I do every day.”
# 2 Mourinho explains how he employs strategies for mental resilience
“Without emotional control you cannot play, influence; you cannot react. You have to know what you have to do and not react. You have to be cool.”
# 1 Mourinho lays down what went wrong in Chelsea’s Loss to Newcastle in 2013
“You win by effort, by commitment, by ambition, by quality, by expressing yourself individually but in the team context.”
Why football fans are enchanted with the leadership style of Mourinho
Let’s talk about Mourinho’s dedication last. Many are aware of his flashiness and the contentious remarks he made to the media, which we have already brought up, but they are unaware of the way he collaborated with his players. His former teammates emphasised that Mourinho always arrives early for practice and would be there even before the players.
Walking the speak is, in our opinion, one of the fundamental principles of effective leadership. These, in my opinion, are the main principles of Mourinho’s leadership style and the lessons we, as individuals and potential leaders, can take away from him.
- Assertiveness
- Inclined to demands
- Orientation to results
- Making strategies
- Decisiveness
- Inspiration
We can all learn a few things from Mourinho, who’s a terrific example of how a leader of a team full of superstars should lead.
