"The Green Turf Magician: Mourinho's Glory, Regrets, and Dreams for the Future"
"Football is round, anything can happen." This classic saying not only captures the charm of football but also perfectly interprets the ups and downs of Jose Mourinho's coaching career, known as the green turf magician.
As the New Year's bell rang in 2025, Mourinho sat in an interview room with "La Gazzetta dello Sport," sharing with us the glories and regrets of his years, as well as his infinite hopes for the future.
Mourinho is a legend in the football world. From Porto's stunning 4-1 victory over Lazio in the UEFA Cup semi-finals to Inter Milan's 2-0 triumph over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, and then Tottenham's exhilarating 6-1 sweep of Manchester United, Mourinho's name has been closely linked with countless classic battles.
But today, we're not just talking about these moments of victory, but also the stories hidden behind them and Mourinho's plans for the future.
Let's start with Tottenham's 6-1 victory over Manchester United. Mourinho reminisces with a satisfied look: "That game was simply a perfect performance. The players played with vigor, the offense surged like a tidal wave, and the defense was as solid as a rock. 6-1, this score is like telling the world that we, Tottenham, are also capable!" However, he then reveals a hint of regret: "To be honest, I still have some regrets. If we could have scored a few more goals at that time, it would have been even more perfect. Football, sometimes, is like this; you never know what will happen next."
Speaking of regrets, there's more than one in Mourinho's coaching career. The moment he left Real Madrid still haunts him. "At that time, President Florentino repeatedly tried to keep me, but I still chose to leave. Now, looking back, that might have been a regret in my career. After all, a platform like Real Madrid is not something every coach gets the chance to stand on." Mourinho sighed, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
During his time in Rome, although he helped the team win their first European title (the inaugural Europa Conference League championship) and reached the Europa League final in the second year, they were ultimately defeated by Sevilla in Budapest, losing the championship, which also left Mourinho feeling unsatisfied.
"In fact, the best time to leave Rome was after losing to Sevilla. But at that time, I still chose to stay. As a result, the following days were not satisfactory, and there were even some unpleasant times." Mourinho shook his head, seemingly recalling that not-so-good period.
But Mourinho is an optimistic person; he quickly emerged from his regrets and began planning for his future. "You know, I really want to coach a national team. Imagine leading a national team to compete in the European Championship or the World Cup, what kind of experience would that be!" Mourinho's eyes sparkled with anticipation, "Moreover, I have a dream, which is to coach the Portuguese national team. If possible, I hope that could be the last stop of my coaching career."
Nowadays, Mourinho is leading the Turkish Super League team Fenerbahce on the field. Although currently ranked second in the Turkish Super League and among the top 24 in the Europa League, Mourinho is clearly not content with the status quo. "We still need to work hard and make progress. I believe that as long as we work together, Fenerbahce can go further." Mourinho's words are full of confidence.
Looking back on Mourinho's coaching career, we can't help but notice that he always maintains his love for football and his desire for victory. No matter which team he leads, he gives his all, striving to do his best. In the face of regrets and setbacks, he never loses heart, always learning from them and moving forward.
Mourinho's story is like a football novel filled with legendary colors. He uses his wisdom and courage to write unforgettable green turf legends. And as fans, we are fortunate to witness all of this.
In the future, no matter where Mourinho goes, we will continue to follow him and support him because he is the ever-magical, ever-respectable green turf magician.
Finally, let's sum up Mourinho's coaching career with one sentence: "On the green turf, he is a magician, creating miracle after miracle with wisdom and courage; in life, he is a warrior, never retreating in the face of difficulties and challenges, always forging ahead." This is Jose Mourinho, a green turf legend that we will always remember.