Mourinho: ‘I am not nice’ as Real Madrid boss revisits family and Frisk controversy

Jose Mourinho says he has no regrets about his criticism of referee Anders Frisk and admits his family enjoys life more when he is not around, while insisting they remain more important to him than football.

The Real Madrid manager made the comments in a new Netflix documentary, reflecting on the personal sacrifices created by a 25-year coaching career across Europe.

Mourinho, 63, has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Matilde “Tami” Faria, for more than 35 years. They have two children, Matilde, 30, and Jose Mario Junior, 26.

His family have rarely travelled with him during spells in charge of Benfica, Porto, Chelsea, Manchester United, Roma, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

For much of his time at Manchester United, Mourinho lived alone at The Lowry hotel. During most of his children’s formative years, they remained at the family home in west London while he travelled for work.

“Sometimes you feel that I should be there, but I am not there,” Mourinho said as photographs of his family appeared on screen. “But I don’t want you to think that family means less to me. They are in a place that cannot even be compared with football.”

He added: “But to tell the truth, I know they enjoy life much more without me. This is real. This is true. If they go to a restaurant with me, it is different from going without me.”

Mourinho has frequently credited Tami with helping him succeed as a manager and said he tries to protect his family from the pressures surrounding his career.

“I try to protect them as much as I can, but of course I fail many times. It is not easy,” he said.

“Tami is a great mother, and they understand that what I am in football is my way of life. They have to understand that. You are pushing me to talk about myself, which is something I don’t want to do.”

He continued: “I think your happiness, your unhappiness and your problems, you leave them at the training-ground door. Maybe this is an old-fashioned way of looking at things, but this is me, and in the end I don’t want to change. It is too late.”

Mourinho is more comfortable discussing his career and his work with clubs including Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid, where he achieved significant success. He has now returned to Real Madrid for a second spell as manager.

In the documentary, he jokes that he is “calm” while walking along the coast, despite carrying two mobile phones to call and message members of his staff about matches and transfers.

After returning to Real Madrid, Mourinho said football had become the centre of his existence.

“Football is a job that consumes me. This is me. No gardening, no cooking, no cleaning, no golf, no racket sports, nothing,” he said.

The Portuguese coach also accepts his reputation as football’s villain and has never shied away from controversy.

He remains unapologetic about comments he made about Frisk after a controversial 2005 Champions League match between Chelsea and Barcelona. Frisk later received death threats and retired from refereeing.

“People say that I spoke too much after that match, but I would do exactly the same again. This is my way. That is why I am not nice. I am not nice. That is how things are,” Mourinho said.

Asked how he felt about admitting that he was not a nice person, he replied: “I do it out of pride, and you believe you are helping your team to achieve results.”