CONTROVERSY has seemed to follow Jose Mourinho throughout his career.
The Special One is currently causing a stir in Turkey, where he coaches Fenerbahce.
Jose Mourinho is in hot water at Fenerbahce after being accused of racism[/caption]
Following a 0-0 draw with fierce rivals Galatasaray, the Portuguese tactician has been accused of making “racist statements”.
Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss Mourinho claimed after the stalemate that Galatasaray had tried to get one of his team booked early on.
He told a press conference that “everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like monkeys”.
However, Galatasaray have now hit back – vowing to file a criminal complaint against the two-time Champions League winner.
It’s the latest of a long list of controversial moments that have featured Mourinho.
SunSport wades through some of those below.
“Respect”
During a press conference in the 2018-19 season, Mourinho took umbrage to journalist’s questions following a 3-0 defeat for his Manchester United said.
Holding up three fingers, Mourinho said: “What was the result? 3-0? You know what this means? 3-0.
“But it also means three Premierships, and I’ve won more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me, and two for them.”
He then got out of seat, gesturing the media to calm down with the palm of his hand, before repeatedly saying ‘respect, respect man’.
Fracas with Wenger
Mourinho and Wenger already had previous, when the then Chelsea boss called the French manager a “specialist in failure”.
However, handbags were flying when the legendary Arsenal manager entered his rival’s technical area and gave him a shove and angry words were exchanged.
After the game, Wenger explained: “I wanted to go from A to B, and somebody confronted me before B without any sign of welcome.
“Honestly, I don’t listen to what he says. Push him? You would know if I really tried to push. Come on.”
Mourinho and Arsene Wenger had a tempestuous relationship[/caption]
The pair got into a shoving match during a Chelsea vs Arsenal game[/caption]
Wearing a wire
The conspiracy theories were really getting to Mourinho during his spell at Roma.
He was convinced referees had it in for him during the 2022-2023 season, a campaign which saw him receive three red cards on the touchline.
So, in true Mourinho form, he did what he could to protect himself. He became an informant and wore a wire.
He revealed: “I’m not stupid, you know. Today, I went to the game with a microphone. I recorded everything. From the moment I left the locker room, to the moment I returned. I protected myself.”
More touchline shenanigans
When Mourinho revisited Stamford Bridge with his Man Utd team, it took his team to hold him back as he looked for a fight.
To be fair to Jose, he was wound up by Chelsea’s coach Marco Ianni celebrating a late equaliser in front of him by the dugouts.
Stewards, Phil Neville, and other Red Devils staff members had to hold him back as he tried to race down the tunnel to confront the Italian.
Afterwards, Ianni and Maurizio Sarri offered their apologies.
When coaching Man Utd, Mourinho was taunted by Chelsea coach Marco Ianni[/caption]
Mourinho tried to race down the tunnel to confront the Italian coach[/caption]
Hiding in a laundry basket
In his first season in the Prem at Chelsea, Mourinho was handed a touchline ban for the Champions League quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich.
But, there was no way he was going to let that get in the way of entering the dressing room to talk to his team.
He told Sky Sports years later: “I go to the dressing room during the day so I was there from midday and the game is seven o’clock. I just want to be in the dressing room when the players arrive.
“I went there and nobody saw me. The problem was to leave after. And Stewart Bannister the kit man put me in the basket. It was a little bit open so I could breathe.
“But when he is taking it outside the dressing room, the UEFA guys were following and desperate to find me so he closed the box and I couldn’t breathe.
“When he opened the box I was dying! I am serious! I was claustrophobic, I promise! It’s true.”
After receiving a ban, Mourinho hid in a basket to speak with his team in the dressing room[/caption]
No questions, please
Often, you can strike gold with Mourinho at press conferences – because of his wit, charm, and no-holds-barred comments.
But, on this occasion, he chose to say nothing.
It was a press conference that lasted just 10 seconds, when Man Utd’s press officer asked waiting journalists if they had any questions following the final league game of the 2016-2017 season.
Now most of the written press weren’t in the room at this time, with Jose arriving before them.
With the handful that were in the room hesitant, Mourinho took it upon himself to say “good” before marching off.
Assault on Tito Villanova
During his Real Madrid years Mourinho was especially spiky.
And it was fierce rivals Barcelona, who irked him the most, with things coming to a head in El Clasico.
After the game, Mourinho poked Pep Guardiola’s then-assistant Tito Villanova in the eye in an unprovoked attack and wandered off.
Barcelona didn’t make an official complaint. However, the club said: “The public have given their opinion. They are very clear that what this person did wasn’t right. The (Spanish football) federation will act if they want to.”
They did, they gave Jose a two-game ban, which was later rescinded in a general amnesty on suspensions across Spanish football.
Mourinho apologised a year later and has always continued to express his sorrow for the incident.
