January 1st 2025.
In a reflective interview, Jose Mourinho opened up about some of the regrets he holds from his successful and eventful career. One of his biggest regrets was leaving Real Madrid to re-join Chelsea in 2013. He had previously enjoyed a brilliant spell at Stamford Bridge from 2004-2007, before leaving for Inter Milan and then moving to Real Madrid in 2010.
During his three years in Spain, Mourinho faced tough competition from a strong Barcelona side. However, in 2012, he managed to get the upper hand and win La Liga. Despite this success, he couldn't resist the offer to return to Chelsea in 2013. Looking back, he now wishes he had stayed at Real Madrid, remembering how the club's president, Florentino Perez, had tried to convince him to stay.
"I remember Florentino Perez saying to me, 'Don't leave, you've done the hard part and the best is yet to come.' I knew he was right, but I had my heart set on returning to Chelsea after three challenging years in Spain," Mourinho shared with Corriere dello Sport.
In addition to his regrets about leaving Real Madrid, Mourinho also reflected on his time at AS Roma. After losing the Europa League final in 2023, he wishes he had left the club immediately. Instead, he stayed on and was eventually fired in January 2024 after a chaotic first half of the season. While the incident of confronting and abusing the referee in a car park is often pointed to as a regret, Mourinho revealed that his biggest regret was not leaving Roma right after the final.
"I have to talk about Budapest, not because of the confusion with Anthony Taylor, but because I didn't leave Roma straight away. I should have left and it was a mistake," he admitted.
Currently managing Fenerbahce, Mourinho's team is currently second in the Turkish Super Lig. However, it remains to be seen how long he will stay in Istanbul, as he already has his sights set on a move into international football.
"I want to play a European Championship or a World Cup and unite a country around a team, as I have already done many times with clubs. It would be an incredible experience," Mourinho shared. "I love football and my work, and I don't want to wait for the perfect opportunity or take a break. I know that some people prefer to do that, but for me, this sport and what it represents is too important to wait for the ideal situation."
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