Mourinho dismisses coaching breaks as ‘weakness’ in pointed Guardiola criticism

Jose Mourinho has criticised the idea of taking a break from management, describing a sabbatical as “weakness” in a pointed reference to long-time rival Pep Guardiola.

Mourinho, 63, says he cannot imagine retiring from football and believes he could continue coaching into his seventies. According to The Sun, the Portuguese manager made the comments in his new Netflix documentary, which follows his career and includes his highly competitive years at Real Madrid.

Mourinho returned to Real Madrid this summer for a second spell in charge and signed a three-year contract. In the documentary, he says he still has the energy and ambition to remain involved in the game for many more years.

“I can’t even imagine when I will stop doing football,” Mourinho said.

“I say another 10 years, but maybe more than 10. It is fun. It was fun, it is fun, and it will always be fun.”

The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager also made clear that his motivation remains centred on winning trophies.

“I want to win more titles. I want to win new titles. I want to repeat winning titles. I want to do that in places I have never been before. I want to do that in places I have been before,” he said.

Mourinho added that the atmosphere of matchday remains central to his identity.

“My world is walking into a football stadium with 50,000 or 90,000 fans. I had 100,000. That is my world.”

“Without football, there is nothing complete inside me. But I don’t think it is an obsession. I don’t feel it is an obsession.”

The Portuguese, who is widely known as “The Special One”, said reaching the highest level only increased his desire to stay there.

“When you reach a certain level, you want to stay there forever.”

Mourinho has worked as a manager since 2000, when he was appointed in charge of Benfica. His documentary charts the development of his career from that point, including a turbulent three-year period at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013.

During that spell, Mourinho repeatedly clashed with Guardiola, who was managing Barcelona. Their rivalry became one of the defining managerial contests in Spanish football, with the two coaches competing for major honours and frequently trading criticism.

Guardiola took a break from management after leaving Barcelona in 2012 before becoming Bayern Munich manager. He later took charge of Manchester City, but is now without a club following his departure from the Premier League side.

Mourinho, however, insisted he would never choose to step away from coaching in the same way. He said he disliked the concept of taking extended time away from football and viewed it as a sign of weakness.

“Some men need a long break – which I hate. I hate this word… For me, a break means weakness. Don’t talk to me about breaks.”

“I never need rest. I will rest when God decides.”