Ferguson praises Mourinho - 'He's good looking and wins everything, it's unfair'

The Portuguese boasts Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter as well as 14 other major titles across four countries, and also speaks five languages fluently
Sir Alex Ferguson says it's unfair that Jose Mourinho can boast good looks and five languages alongside his phenomenal trophy-laden managerial CV.


Since bursting onto the elite level of European football with Porto a decade ago Mourinho has established himself alongside rival Pep Guardiola as the most talented coach of his generation, and one of the greatest of all time.

The Portuguese boasts Champions League success with Porto and Inter as well as 14 other major titles across four countries, and also speaks Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, Italian and English fluently.

And Ferguson, with whom Mourinho always enjoyed a warm relationship despite the two men spending years competing for trophies with Manchester United and Chelsea, remains full of praise for the 51-year-old.

"It is unfair really," the Scot told Clare Balding during a BT Sport documentary to be broadcast on Boxing Day.

"He’s good looking, he’s got that sort of George Clooney bit in his hair now. But I think he is a great example, he can speak five languages or whatever he can.

"He goes and becomes an interpreter for Bobby Robson, follows him to Barcelona, works under Louis Van Gaal; he is learning all the time.

"He [Mourinho] has got a determination, he wants to be a coach.

"He never played the game, by the way – you tell me how many presidents would give a manager a job who has never played the game? None. But he has done it.

"Then he goes and manages a small team in Portugal, then goes to Porto and wins the league, wins the Uefa Cup, wins the European Cup, goes to Chelsea and wins the league. Goes to Inter Milan.

"That is an example to anyone who wants to do well, you shouldn’t let the barriers get in your way if you want to get there."