The name of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho has been intertwined with Egyptian football since the beginning of his coaching journey, making him a familiar figure to Egyptian fans, following several encounters with the Pharaohs.
The announcement of Mourinho, the former AS Roma coach, joining the analysis team for the Al Ahly vs. Zamalek match, scheduled to be held at the “Al-Oula Park” stadium in Saudi Arabia on March 8, has reignited memories for Egyptian football enthusiasts, recalling 6 unforgettable moments.
Beginning with Sabry
In the 2000-2001 season, Egyptian player Abdelsattar Sabry appeared for Benfica under the leadership of then-young coach Jose Mourinho.
However, this was a brief period before Mourinho moved on to new and rapid experiences, culminating in his Champions League triumph with Porto in 2004.
Sabry utilized his famous television appearances to talk about his relationship with the veteran coach, describing it as both good and bad.
Sabry stated that Mourinho was the reason for his departure from Benfica, as he was forced to change his position from playing as an attacking midfielder to a winger, leading to his exit.
Sabry recalled a specific incident where he defied Mourinho’s instructions, and scored a goal, but was immediately substituted, prompting Sabry to kick water bottles in frustration, narrowly missing Mourinho.
Months ago, Sabry announced receiving an offer from Mourinho, described as his old friend, to work with AS Roma’s coaching staff, before Mourinho was sacked due to poor results with the Italian capital club.
Salah: The Most Famous Story
In the winter of 2014, Mourinho, then Chelsea’s manager, signed promising Egyptian youngster Mohamed Salah, who had impressed him with his goal against Chelsea while playing for Basel in Europe.
Mourinho convinced Salah to accept Chelsea’s offer instead of Liverpool after a phone call between them.
However, Salah did not find regular playing time with the team, scoring only two goals in the English Premier League before being forced to leave for Italy to seek playing time with Fiorentina and then Roma.
Mourinho faced criticism after Salah’s rise with Liverpool, winning prestigious individual awards such as the Premier League Player of the Year and the Golden Boot, to which Mourinho responded by stating that he brought Salah to the Premier League and recognized his abilities.
Mourinho believed Salah needed more development and playing time at the time to become the player he is now.
Salah never spoke negatively about his former coach Mourinho, despite his struggles at Chelsea, where he competed for playing time against talented players like Willian, Andre Schurrle, and Eden Hazard.
Mourinho in Cairo
In 2019, Jose Mourinho signed a contract with Egyptian television to analyze the matches of the Africa Cup of Nations via terrestrial broadcast in Cairo through the “Time Sport” channel.
Mourinho attended the matches of the Egyptian national team in the tournament, and his sightseeing tours in the archaeological sites garnered significant public attention on social media platforms.
Advice for Al Ahly’s President
Mahmoud Taher, the former president of Al Ahly Club, revealed receiving a phone call from Jose Mourinho, recommending his compatriot Jose Peseiro for coaching the Red Devils.
In 2015, Al Ahly needed to hire a foreign coach, with Taher stating in phone interviews that Mourinho was his technical advisor in the file of hiring a foreign coach.
In the UAE, Portuguese coach Ricardo Formosinho, the former manager of Fujairah Club, received a phone call during the press conference after his victory over Pyramids in the semi-finals of the Egyptian Super Cup last December.
He discovered that Jose Mourinho was the caller.
Ricardo spoke to the journalists in the press room, showing them the phone with Jose Mourinho’s name displayed as the caller, informing them that he had to answer and suspend the press conference.
AFCON 2008 and Abu Treika
Mourinho attended the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ghana, witnessing the Egyptian team’s triumph, as they clinched their sixth title in history.
Afterwards, Mourinho stated in a television interview: “What prevented me from signing Abu Treika for Chelsea after watching him play at the time was his age.”
Mourinho praised retired Egyptian star Abu Treika, saying: “Abu Treika is a player with wonderful skills, and everyone knows what he has achieved with his club and national team.
If he were playing now (in 2019), he would have become one of the most famous Arab professionals in Europe.”
The moments recounted serve as a testament to the enduring relationship between Jose Mourinho and Egyptian football, shaping memorable experiences that continue to resonate with fans.
