Jose Mourinho: How 'Special One' Performed in All His First Full Season with Other Clubs

• Jose Mourinho has agreed to become the new Fenerbahce manager, just months after he was dismissed by AS Roma
• The Portuguese gaffer takes over the Turkish giants with more than two decades of managerial experience
• Mourinho’s record in his first season with most of the clubs he has managed proves Fenerbahce have appointed a winner

Fenerbahce fans should be excited about Jose Mourinho if the Portuguese manager’s record is anything to go by.

The Special One is set to return to football management just four months after getting sacked by Italian giants Roma.

His next assignment will be in the Turkish Super Lig. Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday, May 31, that the former Chelsea tactician has agreed to a two-year deal with Fenerbahce.

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Fenerbahce will be Mourinho’s 10th club to manage since he first landed a job at Benfica in September 2000.

Sports Brief looks at how the Special One fared in his first season of all of the teams he has managed.

How Mourinho performed in first season at previous clubs

Benfica - Lasted 3 months

After replacing Jupp Heynckes in September 2000, Mourinho took his first managerial job at Benfica, which lasted only three months.

União de Leiria - No titles

In 2001, Mourinho got a new job, taking charge of another Portuguese outfit in União de Leiria.

Since joining the club in April, he has been in charge of only seven games in his first season, but he managed to guide the team to their highest-ever league finish of fifth place, per ESPN Brasil.

Mourinho did not win any silverware at the club but attracted attention from other Portuguese giants like FC Porto and Benfica after a frightening run of form with União de Leiria.

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FC Porto – League title in first full season

This is where Mourinho first tasted success in terms of silverware.

He was appointed in January 2002 and helped the club secure third place on the log.

In his first full season in charge (2002-2003 campaign), Mourinho won his first Primera Liga, finishing the season 11 points clear of Benfica.

A year later, Mourinho masterminded a famous Champions League triumph with Porto, and Chelsea soon came calling

Chelsea – Won Blues' first title in 50 years

In June 2004, Mourinho moved to Chelsea on a three-year deal, and this is where he coined his most iconic phrase, saying:

“Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one.”

He lived up to his name as Chelsea won the 2004-2005 league title with a then record of 95 points. It was the Blues’ first domestic title in five decades.

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Inter Milan – Won League title in first season

After two league titles with Chelsea, Mourinho moved to the Italian top flight, signing a deal with Inter in 2008.

The Nerazzuri’s goal was simple - to get back to the top and end AC Milan’s dominance in Italy.

In his first season with the club, Mourinho won the first of two league titles with Inter, and his three summer signings, Mancini, Sulley Muntari, and Ricardo Quaresma, proved to be bargains.

A year later, in 2010, Mourinho famously won the Champions League with Inter by beating Bayern in the final.

Real Madrid –Won Copa del Rey in first season

When Mourinho signed for Real Madrid in May 2010, he presumably knew the stakes were much higher.

Los Blancos had underperformed the previous season despite signing Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Kaka for hefty fees, and the club’s hierarchy was determined to oversee success.

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Despite falling short in the title race, Mourinho won a trophy in his first season with Real Madrid—the Copa del Rey. This was a landmark win for the Spanish giants, ending an 18-year drought for the trophy.

Notably, Mourinho got his revenge against Barcelona the following season, winning the La Liga title for the first time in four years with a record 100 points.

Manchester United: Won Europa League and EFL Cup

Mourinho became the first Manchester United manager to win a major trophy in his first season when he beat Southampton 3-2 to lift the Carabao Cup.

A 2-0 win over Ajax in the Europa League final on May 24, 2017, gave the Portuguese gaffer his second major trophy in only his first season with the Red Devils.

Tottenham Hotspur - No trophies

The Portuguese tactician’s third English club to manage was Tottenham Hotspur. Unfortunately, he failed to clinch any silverware with the North Londoners.

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Technically, Mourinho never spent an entire season in charge of Tottenham since he was sacked in April 2021 after 17 months in charge.

Roma – UEFA Conference League triumph

When Mourinho took the Roma job in May 2021, many fans were convinced he was past his peak.

But he proved everyone wrong by guiding the Gialorossi to their maiden Europa Conference League final and winning it, ending the Italian giants’ trophy drought.

Interestingly, a Serie A team won a continental trophy for the first time since Inter Milan’s 2010 Champions League triumph.

Managers who won trophies with ‘small clubs’

Sports Brief also reported on managers who won major trophies with underdogs.

Jose Mourinho makes the list after his heroics in the Champions League with FC Porto in 2002.

Claudio Ranieri, Xabi Alonso and Ernesto Valverde also make the cut.