Mourinho’s Special Love for Africans
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Everyone is discussing Mourinho’s future. Immediately after his sacking from Roma, it was reported that he turned down a club from Saudi Arabia. Later, insiders mentioned Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Barça. And the Daily Mail wrote about a return to the APL: they say José has unfinished business at MU.
The Portuguese has not yet commented on anything. But in February, he gave a vivid interview to Rio Ferdinand, where he reminisced about his work at past clubs. And paid a lot of attention to Africans:
“I can’t go to Africa! It’s too much for me. I’ve worked with many African footballers: Drogba, Obi Mikel, Kalou, Essien and others… Every time I am in Africa, they don’t give me a pass. They love me very much there!
There have been many African footballers in Mourinho’s career. Below are powerful stories of their relationships.
Mourinho found Drogba back at Porto and brought him back to Chelsea in 2014
The Portuguese learnt about the talented Drogba back in 2003 when he was firing away at Marseille:
“In 2003, I was coaching Porto, and we faced Marseille in the Champions League. That night, Drogba scored and celebrated as if it was his last goal. The atmosphere at the Velodrome was crazy, the noise was deafening.
I approached him in the tunnel at halftime and said, “I don’t have the money to buy you. Maybe you have brothers in Côte d’Ivoire who play like you?”
He laughed, hugged me and said: “One day, you will be at a club that can buy me.” Six months later, I signed a contract with Chelsea. I had a few options to sign, but I came and said: “I want Didier Drogba”.
Drogba arrived at Chelsea at age 26. In his first season, he missed two months through injury and scored 16 goals in 41 games. Fans did not like the Ivorian for simulations. Drogba himself told the press at the time that he wanted to leave, but Mourinho helped.
“Jose supported me always, especially at the beginning of my career at Chelsea, when I was mercilessly criticised,” Drogba wrote in his autobiography. – Even when he was criticised for acquiring me, then an unknown player, he replied clearly: “Judge him when he leaves the club”. That belief in success is what Mourinho is all about.
Essien played for José at Real Madrid and Chelsea
It all started at Chelsea: in 2005, Jose agreed the transfer of Essien from Lyon for 38 million euros. Michael was delighted with his first meeting with Mourinho: the coach knew everything about his style of play. After moving to London, Essien began to play regularly in the base, and in the press, he was called “Mourinho’s soldier”.
“Essien is not my player. Don’t say that. He is my son, and I am his white daddy. We are very close, our bond is much stronger than just a job. I understand why players like him are willing to die on the field. But what he did for me at Real Madrid cannot be said. Michael was ready to play for me with an injured knee,” Jose recalled in 2018. However, Mourinho later asked Essien to stop calling him “daddy” – explaining that they are almost the same age (although the Portuguese is 20 years older).
In 2010, Mourinho left for Real Madrid. Essien, at that time, missed about a year due to injuries (there was even a ruptured cross) and lost his place in the Chelsea squad. In the summer of 2012, on the last day of the transfer window, he received a call from Mourinho himself and called him to him. At that moment, he was travelling with the club to the European Super Cup final. Essien shouted to the driver to stop, jumped out of the bus and went to the hotel in time to send all the documents.
It didn’t work out for Essien at Real Madrid. But a year later, when Essien’s loan was ending, they were already back together at Chelsea: “When I scored the last goal for Real Madrid in the last game of the season, I ran to Mourinho to celebrate with him. I expected him to congratulate me when I hugged him. Instead, he leaned over and said: “See you on 8 July for pre-season.” I laughed.”
Both were already at Chelsea in the summer of 2013. Michael played a few matches in London and left for AC Milan six months later.
Essien and the Portuguese are friends. During his holidays, he even took Mourinho to his homeland in Accra (the capital of Ghana), where they spent hours discussing football.
Africans were willing to die for him and would agree to a transfer after one call
Two years ago, Eto’o explained why he thinks so well of the Portuguese: “Mourinho is the best coach in the world because he thinks African players are the best. He believes in Africa and African players so much that he gives them a chance anytime.”
– John Obi Mikel has recently appeared in the media – launching his own podcast. And in December, Mourinho, who doesn’t often give interviews, popped in to see him. And explained why he didn’t turn John down: “Because John is my boy. If one of my boys had called me on the podcast, I would have said yes. John was the first one.
In 2011, Mourinho loaned Adebayor to Man City for just six months. But even in that time, the African has become imbued with the Portuguese: “Mourinho is different, not like everyone else. He has an absolutely unique vision of football: defence, attacking development, mentality.
Striker Felix Afena-Gyan of Roma debuted in big football just under Jose Mourinho: he came on for half an hour against Cagliari. He helped them to bounce back and win 0:1. And in the match against Genoa, he scored the winner in the end – and ran to celebrate with José. After the game, the coach explained the matter: “I promised to buy Felix trainers, which he would like if he scored. They are costly, costing 800 euros. After the goal, he ran up to me and told me not to forget about it! Of course, José kept his promise.
