Jose Mourinho teared up during an interview when discussing how much he misses working in football, with the former Manchester United manager revealing an emotional side rarely seen from the Portuguese.
The 58-year-old has not been in the dug-out since being sacked by United last December, having instead taken on television work most recently with Sky Sports, having given his analysis of the club’s Premier League opener against Chelsea last weekend.
But he has previously spoken of his desire to return to football when the opportunity arises, and in an interview that has emerged on Twitter, Mourinho almost broke down in tears, such were his emotions in discussing his absence from the game.
“The moment I went to professional football was when I had the click,” Mourinho said.
“Now, it’s serious. It’s serious stuff. It’s been serious stuff until now. Now it’s stopped and instead of enjoy it, I can’t really enjoy it. I miss it.”
1/34 Sporting Lisbon, Porto & Barcelona
Jose Mourinho began his career in football as an interpreter to Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon in 1992. His role developed into a coaching role with they both moved to Porto a year later. They won several leagues and cups during their time before moving to Barcelona in 1996 (pictured above together with the at the European Cup Winners Cup at the 1997 final)
Rex
2/34 Barcelona
Barcelona manager Bobby Robson poses for a team picture with his players and assistant coach Jose Mourinho at the Nou Camp in 1996
Getty
3/34 Benfica & União de Leiria
Mourinho made the jump from coaching staff to manager with a short spell at Benfica in 2000 and then União de Leiria in 2001, where he caught the eye of the higher positioned clubs for an eight-match unbeaten run which left the club one point above Porto and just one behind previous club Benfica
Getty
4/34 Porto
He joined Porto in January of 2002 with the club in fifth position and finished the season in third with the promise of making them champions the following season. He came good with his promise in 2003, after identifying a backbone to his squad, high pressing and bringing in a more scientific approach, Porto won the league 11 points ahead of Benfica. The next season Mourinho’s side secured the title five weeks before the end of the season and picked up the biggest prize in Europe, the Champions League
Getty
5/34 Chelsea – first season
In 2004 Jose signed a three-year contract at Chelsea and declared himself ‘The Special One’
Getty
6/34 Chelsea – first season
Mourinho’s first trophy at the club was the league cup, beating Liverpool 3-1 after extra time. He was escorted off the pitch for his response to Liverpool fans by putting his finger to his mouth
PA
7/34 Chelsea – first season
A big moment in Jose’s first season at Chelsea saw them knock out Barcelona in the round of 16 with a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, after a 1-2 loss at the Nou Camp
Getty
8/34 Chelsea – first season
A controversial decision relating to a goal in their Champions League game against Liverpool saw them knocked out at the semi-final stage
AFP/Getty
9/34 Chelsea – first season
In his first season at Chelsea Mourinho won the league, securing their first title in 50 years. The side set several records including the fewest goals conceded, just 15
PA
10/34 Chelsea – second season
Mourinho strengthened the Chelsea squad with further signings like Michael Essien in the summer of 2005
AFP/Getty
11/34 Chelsea – second season
Mourinho won his second title with Chelsea in his second season, securing back-to-back titles after beating Manchester United 3-0 at the Bridge
Getty
12/34 Chelsea – second season
He threw his medal into the crowd after the presentation, as well as, his replacement medal in 2006
AFP/Getty
13/34 Chelsea – third season
Reports of a strained relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich indicated he may leave the club. The signing of Andryi Shevchenko lead to further problems when the chairman insisted on Jose playing him
AFP/Getty
14/34 Chelsea – third season
Despite the growing tension between Mourinho and Abramovich, Chelsea won the league cup once again, beating Arsenal 2-1 in Cardiff in 2007
AFP/Getty
15/34 Chelsea – third season
However Chelsea were once again knocked out to Liverpool in the Champions League at the semi-final stage and hopes of winning the league were over when they drew with Arsenal. Mourinho indicated to the fans to keep their chins up
AFP/Getty
16/34 Chelsea – third season
Jose completed the domestic cup double with a win over Manchester United in the first FA Cup played at Wembley. It was his first time winning it and meant he won every domestic trophy available to a Premier League manager
Getty
17/34 Chelsea – fourth season
A slow start to his fourth season added to the troubling relationship between manager and board. A draw with Rosenborg in the Champions League group stage was Mourinho’s last match in charge
Getty
18/34 Chelsea – fourth season
He left Chelsea by mutual consent on 20 September 2007 as the club’s most successful manager in their history
AFP/Getty
19/34 Chelsea – fourth season
Fans soon protested the board’s decision on the day of his departure outside Stamford Bridge
AFP/Getty
20/34 Inter Milan – first season
Jose joined Inter Milan in June 2008 after replacing Roberto Mancini. His backroom staff from Chelsea and Porto also joined him
AFP/Getty
21/34 Inter Milan – first season
Mourinho promoted 18-year-old Italian striker Mario Balotelli after UEFA began pushing for more homegrown players. In his first season with the club Jose won the Supercoppa Italia and league by ten points however lost in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Manchester United. Some fans were disappointed he had not been able to improve on Mancini’s previous achievements
Getty
22/34 Inter Milan – second season
After losing the Supercoppa, Mourinho never looked back, winning the league, Coppa Italia and Champions League (his second as a manager). They became the first Italian club to do the treble
Getty
23/34 Real Madrid – first season
The day after winning the Champions League Mourinho indicated he would be leaving for Real Madrid. Just six days later it was confirmed and he was presented as Manuel Pellegrini’s replacement on 31 May 2010
AFP/Getty
24/34 Real Madrid – first season
Mourinho watches on as Real Madrid triumph over Barcelona in the 2011 Copa del Rey final. It was the frist time that they had won the cup in 18 years
Getty
25/34 Real Madrid – second season
In the 2011/12 season, Real Madrid won La Liga for the first time in four years. With their win against Mallorca in the final game of the season, they set the record for most games won in a La Liga season (32) and improved their own record for the most goals scored (121)
Getty
26/34 Real Madrid – third season
Real Madrid won the Supercopa de España, coming back from a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the final to win 4-4 on away goals. With this, Mourinho had won every domestic title in the space of two years and became the only manager to win every domestic title in four European leagues
AFP/Getty
27/34 Real Madrid – third season
Following a loss to Athletico Madrid in the final of the 2013 Copa del Rey, Mourinho called the 2012/13 season “the worst of my career”. He resigned at the end of the season
AFP/Getty
28/34 Chelsea – fifth season
Mourinho returned to Chelsea for the 2013/14 season. Playing down any title hopes, he referred to it as a transitional season and Chelsea finished 3rd
Getty
29/34 Chelsea – sixth season
In the 2014/15 season, Chelsea won their third Premier League title under Mourinho, losing only 3 games in the season
AFP/Getty
30/34 Chelsea – seventh season
Mourinho parted with Chelsea on 17 December 2015, having lost 9 of the 16 matches so far in the season. The club stated that he left “on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea”
Getty Images
31/34 Manchester United – first season
Mourinho signed a 3 year contract with Manchester United in May 2016. In August, they beat Leicester for the Community Shield
Getty
32/34 Manchester United – first season
United won the Europa league in 2017 with a 2-0 win over AFC Ajax
Getty
33/34 Manchester United – third season
The 2018/19 season started badly, with United losing 2 of their first 3 league games for the first time in 26 years. In a press conference following a 3-0 home loss agaisnt Tottenham, Mourinho got annoyed and noted that 3 is also the number of Premier League titles that he has won (pictured)
Sky Sports
34/34 Manchester United – third season
After just 7 wins in the first 17 games, Mourinho was sacked by United amid rumours that he had lost control of his players
Reuters
1/34 Sporting Lisbon, Porto & Barcelona
Jose Mourinho began his career in football as an interpreter to Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon in 1992. His role developed into a coaching role with they both moved to Porto a year later. They won several leagues and cups during their time before moving to Barcelona in 1996 (pictured above together with the at the European Cup Winners Cup at the 1997 final)
Rex
2/34 Barcelona
Barcelona manager Bobby Robson poses for a team picture with his players and assistant coach Jose Mourinho at the Nou Camp in 1996
Getty
3/34 Benfica & União de Leiria
Mourinho made the jump from coaching staff to manager with a short spell at Benfica in 2000 and then União de Leiria in 2001, where he caught the eye of the higher positioned clubs for an eight-match unbeaten run which left the club one point above Porto and just one behind previous club Benfica
Getty
4/34 Porto
He joined Porto in January of 2002 with the club in fifth position and finished the season in third with the promise of making them champions the following season. He came good with his promise in 2003, after identifying a backbone to his squad, high pressing and bringing in a more scientific approach, Porto won the league 11 points ahead of Benfica. The next season Mourinho’s side secured the title five weeks before the end of the season and picked up the biggest prize in Europe, the Champions League
Getty
5/34 Chelsea – first season
In 2004 Jose signed a three-year contract at Chelsea and declared himself ‘The Special One’
Getty
6/34 Chelsea – first season
Mourinho’s first trophy at the club was the league cup, beating Liverpool 3-1 after extra time. He was escorted off the pitch for his response to Liverpool fans by putting his finger to his mouth
PA
7/34 Chelsea – first season
A big moment in Jose’s first season at Chelsea saw them knock out Barcelona in the round of 16 with a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, after a 1-2 loss at the Nou Camp
Getty
8/34 Chelsea – first season
A controversial decision relating to a goal in their Champions League game against Liverpool saw them knocked out at the semi-final stage
AFP/Getty
9/34 Chelsea – first season
In his first season at Chelsea Mourinho won the league, securing their first title in 50 years. The side set several records including the fewest goals conceded, just 15
PA
10/34 Chelsea – second season
Mourinho strengthened the Chelsea squad with further signings like Michael Essien in the summer of 2005
AFP/Getty
11/34 Chelsea – second season
Mourinho won his second title with Chelsea in his second season, securing back-to-back titles after beating Manchester United 3-0 at the Bridge
Getty
12/34 Chelsea – second season
He threw his medal into the crowd after the presentation, as well as, his replacement medal in 2006
AFP/Getty
13/34 Chelsea – third season
Reports of a strained relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich indicated he may leave the club. The signing of Andryi Shevchenko lead to further problems when the chairman insisted on Jose playing him
AFP/Getty
14/34 Chelsea – third season
Despite the growing tension between Mourinho and Abramovich, Chelsea won the league cup once again, beating Arsenal 2-1 in Cardiff in 2007
AFP/Getty
15/34 Chelsea – third season
However Chelsea were once again knocked out to Liverpool in the Champions League at the semi-final stage and hopes of winning the league were over when they drew with Arsenal. Mourinho indicated to the fans to keep their chins up
AFP/Getty
16/34 Chelsea – third season
Jose completed the domestic cup double with a win over Manchester United in the first FA Cup played at Wembley. It was his first time winning it and meant he won every domestic trophy available to a Premier League manager
Getty
17/34 Chelsea – fourth season
A slow start to his fourth season added to the troubling relationship between manager and board. A draw with Rosenborg in the Champions League group stage was Mourinho’s last match in charge
Getty
18/34 Chelsea – fourth season
He left Chelsea by mutual consent on 20 September 2007 as the club’s most successful manager in their history
AFP/Getty
19/34 Chelsea – fourth season
Fans soon protested the board’s decision on the day of his departure outside Stamford Bridge
AFP/Getty
20/34 Inter Milan – first season
Jose joined Inter Milan in June 2008 after replacing Roberto Mancini. His backroom staff from Chelsea and Porto also joined him
AFP/Getty
21/34 Inter Milan – first season
Mourinho promoted 18-year-old Italian striker Mario Balotelli after UEFA began pushing for more homegrown players. In his first season with the club Jose won the Supercoppa Italia and league by ten points however lost in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Manchester United. Some fans were disappointed he had not been able to improve on Mancini’s previous achievements
Getty
22/34 Inter Milan – second season
After losing the Supercoppa, Mourinho never looked back, winning the league, Coppa Italia and Champions League (his second as a manager). They became the first Italian club to do the treble
Getty
23/34 Real Madrid – first season
The day after winning the Champions League Mourinho indicated he would be leaving for Real Madrid. Just six days later it was confirmed and he was presented as Manuel Pellegrini’s replacement on 31 May 2010
AFP/Getty
24/34 Real Madrid – first season
Mourinho watches on as Real Madrid triumph over Barcelona in the 2011 Copa del Rey final. It was the frist time that they had won the cup in 18 years
Getty
25/34 Real Madrid – second season
In the 2011/12 season, Real Madrid won La Liga for the first time in four years. With their win against Mallorca in the final game of the season, they set the record for most games won in a La Liga season (32) and improved their own record for the most goals scored (121)
Getty
26/34 Real Madrid – third season
Real Madrid won the Supercopa de España, coming back from a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the final to win 4-4 on away goals. With this, Mourinho had won every domestic title in the space of two years and became the only manager to win every domestic title in four European leagues
AFP/Getty
27/34 Real Madrid – third season
Following a loss to Athletico Madrid in the final of the 2013 Copa del Rey, Mourinho called the 2012/13 season “the worst of my career”. He resigned at the end of the season
AFP/Getty
28/34 Chelsea – fifth season
Mourinho returned to Chelsea for the 2013/14 season. Playing down any title hopes, he referred to it as a transitional season and Chelsea finished 3rd
Getty
29/34 Chelsea – sixth season
In the 2014/15 season, Chelsea won their third Premier League title under Mourinho, losing only 3 games in the season
AFP/Getty
30/34 Chelsea – seventh season
Mourinho parted with Chelsea on 17 December 2015, having lost 9 of the 16 matches so far in the season. The club stated that he left “on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea”
Getty Images
31/34 Manchester United – first season
Mourinho signed a 3 year contract with Manchester United in May 2016. In August, they beat Leicester for the Community Shield
Getty
32/34 Manchester United – first season
United won the Europa league in 2017 with a 2-0 win over AFC Ajax
Getty
33/34 Manchester United – third season
The 2018/19 season started badly, with United losing 2 of their first 3 league games for the first time in 26 years. In a press conference following a 3-0 home loss agaisnt Tottenham, Mourinho got annoyed and noted that 3 is also the number of Premier League titles that he has won (pictured)
Sky Sports
34/34 Manchester United – third season
After just 7 wins in the first 17 games, Mourinho was sacked by United amid rumours that he had lost control of his players
Reuters
The Portuguese has left the door open to a future international role which would enable him to continue his television work throughout the season, though he also recently revealed that he is learning German, which could open the door to a move to the Bundesliga.
“I miss football, the adrenaline, the pitch, my work. Football is football,” Mourinho told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Right now, I’m studying German. I didn’t know this language.
“I speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian. I don’t exclude anything, not even Germany.”
