Mourinho Going for Football’s Greatest Treble

As soon as Jose Mourinho wrote his name in the history books with Inter Milan’s 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the 2010 Champions League final, “The Special One” is already starting on a new chapter.

Having become only the third manager to win Europe’s premier competition with two different clubs – he also won with Porto in 2004 – the Portuguese manager said he wants to go one better.

“I want to be the only coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs,” said Mourinho, who admitted he could be headed back to the Santiago Bernabeu – the site of the decider and home to Real Madrid.

“It’s more likely that I will leave rather than stay.

“Only Real are interested in me but I haven’t spoken with anyone and I haven’t signed anything. I promised I’d speak after the final.

“When I win I don’t stop and here (in Italy) I have won everything. I’ve won the Champions League with two clubs and I can do it with three.”

The other two managers to have won the UEFA Champions Leagues with two different teams are Austrian Ernst Happel (’70 Feyenoord and ’83 Hamburg) and German Ottmar Hitzfeld (’97 Borussia Dortmund and ’01 Bayern Munich).

Mourinho will also be looking to be the first manager since Arrigo Saachi (AC Milan ’89 and ’90) to win back-to-back titles. He could be the tenth gaffer to achieve this feat.

He would also etch his name in the history books by joining Bob Paisley, who has won the tournament on three occasions after leading Liverpool to success in the 1977, 1978 and 1981 European Cup Finals.

After leading Internazionale to an Italian treble, Mourinho has now conquered Portuguese, English and Italian football … bring on Spain.

His six league titles, two Champions League crowns and another eight Cups thrown in for good measure in the 10 years he has been a manager Mourinho has demonstrated an amazing ability to get superstars share a common goal and play as a team – something that was missing at the Gallaticos this year.

If he manages to succeed in Spain, and with superstars like Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian Kaka there’s plenty of reasons why he should, Mourinho will go down in history as the greatest manager of all time.

After he conquers the three biggest leagues in the world — what a treble that would be — I just wonder what his next goal would be … World Cup? That would be the ultimate Grand Slam in sport.

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One Comment on “Mourinho Going for Football’s Greatest Treble”

  1. Frank Finnegan says:

    What a fascinating personality. The rock star of managers. And one of those guys you just can’t stand, but always want to watch. I remember being very happy when he left Chelsea, but quickly realized that I missed him.

    If he does go to Real, it takes the Real-Barca rivalry to stratospheric levels. Throw in Barca’s ridiculous spending spree and growing mountain of debt, and that will be truly the race to watch in Europe next season.


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