The Portuguese tactician came close to glory after leaving a mark at Manchester United and with Porto in their UEFA Cup campaign.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma reached a second straight European final on May 31, 2023, a match that followed last year’s appearance and added another chapter to the Special One’s long list of achievements as he pursued a third Europa League trophy. Though the final against Sevilla ended in defeat, his vast experience in high-stakes finals was evident, and he nearly delivered another title that would further deepen an already storied career.
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Beyond the trophies and milestones, Mourinho stands out as one of the most successful managers of the modern era. He is the only coach to have won all three major European competitions, a feat that anchors his reputation as a winner who thrives in decisive, knockout environments.
The Europa League title, which he will contest again this season with the capital club, was secured in 2017 while at Manchester United. That triumph opened the door to the Champions League for the Mancunians and reinforced the narrative of his ability to convert domestic leagues into European breakthroughs.
Manchester United closed the Premier League season in sixth place yet enjoyed a rewarding run in the cup competitions. They claimed the Community Shield against Leicester and then lifted the League Cup, followed by the Europa League, where they defeated Ajax Amsterdam 2-0 in the final staged at Solna.
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Earlier in his career, when the competition was still known as the UEFA Cup and carried a different format, Mourinho also navigated that path to success. He did so with Porto in 2003, overcoming Celtic in Glasgow in the final held at La Cartuja, a year before Porto’s ultimate triumph in the Champions League, a victory that defined the beginning of his elite European pedigree.
Source: Goal