Last updated: 11 August 2026

José Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and former player who is the head coach of Real Madrid. He has won league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain, plus major European trophies with Porto, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Roma. This profile covers his biography, coaching career, trophies, tactical style and latest news.

Mourinho became a leading name in football after guiding Porto to the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League. He later won Inter Milan’s historic treble, multiple Premier League titles with Chelsea and the UEFA Europa Conference League with Roma. Now in his second Real Madrid spell, he remains one of the game’s most successful managers.

Read more: José Mourinho news and analysis

José Mourinho profile overview

Who is José Mourinho?

José Mourinho was born in Setúbal, Portugal, on 26 January 1963. Before becoming a manager, he played as a midfielder at a modest level and studied sport science. He entered professional coaching as an interpreter and assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, developing the analytical approach that shaped his later career.

How Mourinho became a manager

Before taking a first-team role, Mourinho worked as an interpreter and assistant to Sir Bobby Robson at Sporting CP, Porto and Barcelona. He also worked under Louis van Gaal at Barcelona, gaining experience in training, tactical analysis and match preparation.

Benfica gave Mourinho his first senior managerial job in 2000. He later impressed at União de Leiria before joining Porto in January 2002, where he won the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004.

José Mourinho coaching career

Porto: the breakthrough

José Mourinho managed Porto from January 2002 to May 2004. He won two Primeira Liga titles, the Taça de Portugal, the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

Porto beat Monaco 3–0 in the 2004 Champions League final. The run included knockout wins over Manchester United, Lyon and Deportivo La Coruña, and established Mourinho as one of Europe’s leading managers.

Chelsea and “The Special One”

Chelsea appointed José Mourinho in 2004. At his first press conference, he described himself as “a special one”, giving rise to the nickname The Special One.

Chelsea won the Premier League in 2004/05 with 95 points and only 15 goals conceded—a record for a 38-match Premier League season. They retained the title in 2005/06. Mourinho returned in 2013 and won his third Premier League title with Chelsea in 2014/15.

For the club’s recent campaign, see Chelsea’s 2025/26 stats, fixtures, results and table. You can also explore the club’s senior, women’s and youth players.

Inter Milan and the treble

José Mourinho managed Inter Milan from 2008 to 2010. He won Serie A in his first season, along with the Supercoppa Italiana.

In 2009/10, Inter won Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League, becoming the first Italian club to complete the treble. They eliminated Barcelona in the semi-finals before beating Bayern Munich 2–0 in the final, with Diego Milito scoring both goals.

Real Madrid, Manchester United and Roma

During his first spell at Real Madrid, Mourinho won the Copa del Rey in 2011, La Liga in 2011/12 and the Spanish Super Cup in 2012. The league title ended Barcelona’s run of three successive championships and came with a 100-point season.

At Manchester United, he won the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League in 2016/17. The Europa League victory over Ajax also secured Champions League qualification.

Mourinho later took Tottenham to the 2021 League Cup final before leaving the club. Read more about his Tottenham departure.

At Roma, he led the team to the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2022, Roma’s first major UEFA club trophy, and reached the 2023 Europa League final. Also read: Roma’s Serie A fixture against Monza.

He then managed Fenerbahçe and returned to Benfica before beginning his second Real Madrid spell in 2026. Read more about Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe exit. For a wider club profile, read about S.L. Benfica.

José Mourinho trophies and honours

José Mourinho has won 26 major trophies in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. His honours include two UEFA Champions League titles: with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.

He was the first manager to win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League. He has also won domestic league titles with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

What is José Mourinho’s coaching style?

José Mourinho is known for a pragmatic, highly organised coaching style. His teams are usually built around clear roles, compact defensive structure and detailed preparation for each opponent.

Common features of his approach include:

·       detailed opposition analysis and match preparation;

·       disciplined defending and strong team organisation;

·       quick, direct counter-attacks after winning possession;

·       tactical flexibility rather than one fixed formation; and

·       high standards of competitiveness, concentration and accountability.

The exact approach has varied by club and squad. His Chelsea teams combined defensive control with power and pace, while Inter Milan’s 2009/10 side was particularly effective in elite knockout football. Mourinho’s key strength is preparing teams to manage decisive moments in a match.

José Mourinho’s legacy

Mourinho’s status does not rely only on his public personality. His record includes league titles in four countries, two Champions League wins with different clubs and major European trophies with teams at very different stages of their history.

He was also the first manager to win the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

His press conferences, rivalries and ability to create a strong us-against-the-world mood around a team have made him one of football’s most recognisable managers. He has attracted criticism at times, but the scale and range of his trophy record remain difficult to match.

Also read: How Mourinho’s mentorship shaped Benni McCarthy’s coaching

Latest José Mourinho news

August 2026 update: Mourinho is in his second spell as Real Madrid head coach. Real Madrid announced his appointment on 11 June 2026 on a three-year deal running to 30 June 2029.

In a recent Netflix documentary, Mourinho said he had agreed to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013 before choosing to return to Chelsea. Reports on the documentary said Ferguson supported the account. This is best treated as a statement from the documentary and related reporting, not as a change to Manchester United’s official managerial history.

For a later meeting between two of his former clubs, read the Chelsea vs Benfica Champions League preview. For more Blues coverage, visit the Chelsea FC page.

Fast facts about José Mourinho

How rich is José Mourinho?

José Mourinho’s exact net worth is not publicly verified. Online estimates vary, so it is safer not to state a specific figure as fact.

Why did José Mourinho leave Real Madrid?

Mourinho left Real Madrid by mutual agreement at the end of the 2012/13 season. The campaign included tensions around the club, a second-place La Liga finish and a Champions League semi-final exit. UEFA

Who are José Mourinho’s top three players in football history?

Mourinho has praised Lionel Messi, Pelé and Diego Maradona among football’s greatest players. However, there is no consistently verified official ranking from him, so avoid presenting any three names as a definitive list.

Did Mourinho ever coach Messi?

No. Mourinho never managed Lionel Messi. He was part of Barcelona’s coaching staff before Messi joined the club’s academy, and later coached against him at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Who has more trophies, Pep Guardiola or José Mourinho?

Pep Guardiola has won more major trophies as a manager than Mourinho. The exact total can differ depending on whether super cups and other competitions are included, but Guardiola is generally credited with about 40 major honours, compared with Mourinho’s 26.

Who is Mourinho’s favourite player?

Mourinho has said he avoids naming one favourite because many players have given everything for his teams. When asked to choose a player who represents the qualities he values most, he selected Didier Drogba. He has also spoken warmly about Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Conclusion

José Mourinho’s career has remained significant because he has won major honours across different leagues while working with very different squads and expectations. His return to Real Madrid begins a new spell at a club where pressure, scrutiny and the demand for trophies are constant. The next chapter will test whether his experience, tactical approach and strong leadership can deliver success again at the Bernabéu.