José Mourinho was dismissed from Fenerbahçe days ago following another Champions League elimination, extending a pattern of sackings that had already shaped the latter half of his career.
The Portuguese coach, one of football’s most decorated managers, has seen his later years defined by diminishing returns, conflicts, and recurring disputes with players and boards.
Mourinho’s reputation has been built on early triumphs. At Porto, he won the 2003 UEFA Cup and the 2004 Champions League.
His Chelsea stint brought two Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, ending a 50-year wait. Inter Milan’s treble in 2010 cemented his status as one of the sport’s defining figures.
At Real Madrid, he added a record 100-point La Liga campaign in 2012. In total, he accumulated 25 major trophies.
However, recurring cracks have appeared within these successes. His tactical model relied on defensive rigidity and psychological intensity, often producing results but alienating squads and supporters over time.
There is an observed decline in performance metrics around his third season at clubs, linking his exits to what became known as “third-season syndrome.”
At Chelsea in 2007, Mourinho had clashed with Roman Abramovich over transfers despite domestic dominance.
By 2015, his second Chelsea spell ended with the champions sitting one point above relegation. At Real Madrid, his tenure closed amid rifts with senior players like Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos.
He led Manchester United to a Europa League title and a League Cup in 2017, yet he departed in 2018 after public disputes with Paul Pogba and growing tactical criticisms.
Tottenham followed in 2021, with reports of uninspiring training sessions and squad disunity contributing to his dismissal just before the Carabao Cup final.
Roma offered respite with the 2022 Europa Conference League title, but financial strain and failure to reach the Champions League ensured his removal in January 2024.
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Fenerbahçe repeated the cycle: optimism, internal unrest, and eventual dismissal following European disappointment.
A pattern of conflict
Research into Mourinho’s sackings speaks three consistent factors. First, declining results in domestic or European competition have regularly triggered departures.
Second, disputes with players or executives eroded trust, especially when his confrontational management style clashed with expectations.
Third, his defensive approach increasingly misaligned with modern football’s emphasis on pressing and possession.
However, some external forces also influenced his record. In Tottenham, he was denied defensive reinforcements. At Roma, Financial Fair Play restrictions limited investment. At Fenerbahçe, election politics shaped decisions around his tenure.
Enduring legacy, uncertain future
Supporters still credit Mourinho with extraordinary achievements, particularly his ability to deliver trophies for underdogs such as Porto and Inter.
His critics, however, argue his style no longer matches the evolution of the game. Social media debates cite “player power” as decisive in his sackings, while others view him as resistant to change.
Financially, Mourinho’s exits often came with large severance packages. His current options appear to be shifting toward mid-tier sides rather than elite institutions.
Mourinho’s story shows the limits of a model that once redefined management. His legacy as a winner is secure, but the pattern of his sackings raises questions.
