Early peak

Porto coach Mourinho on fast track to success

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) -- As understudy to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho had two of the most distinguished mentors in European soccer.

Now, after giving clubs in the Portuguese championship a masterclass over the past season, Mourinho is aiming to teach Celtic a lesson in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old steered FC Porto to the Portuguese title this season, snaring the first trophy of his career in his first full season in charge of a team.

Mourinho, with just a few of years of head coaching experience, led Porto to dominate the 18-team Super Liga, securing the title with four rounds left to play.

After a brief and unsuccessful career as a midfield player at minor Portuguese clubs, Mourinho began as an interpreter to English coach Robson at Sporting Lisbon in the 1993-94 season.

He followed Robson to Porto as his assistant, and then to Barcelona where he stayed alongside Dutchman Van Gaal after Robson left.

"He was a very good student of soccer, very intelligent, ambitious, enthusiastic and curious," Robson said.

Mourinho debuted as an untested head coach with Benfica in the 2000-01 season.

But after nine games in charge at the Stadium of Light and a 5-2-2 record, he gave the Benfica board an ultimatum: Extend my yearlong contract or I leave.

He left.

Mourinho's detractors call him cold and arrogant -- accusations he makes little attempt to dispel.

"I'm so sure of my potential, my abilities and my competence that it's not by winning or losing titles that I'm going to be less self-confident," he said recently.

Mourinho moved to mid-table outfit Leiria in the 2001-02 season, and after 19 games at the helm he was lured to Porto where he quickly grew in stature as a tactician and motivator of underperforming players.

"He has learnt how to appreciate the qualities of a player, the way a team plays and how you should play against your opponent," Robson said.

"He's also appreciated the importance of discipline, organization and motivation."

Porto president Jorge Pinto da Costa sees Mourinho as star material.

"Anyone can be competent, but not everyone can be a leader. Mourinho was born to lead," he said.

The greatest test of Mourinho's career will come Wednesday in the UEFA Cup final against Celtic.

He has a contract at Porto through 2005, but already he is being tipped as a future coach at bigger European clubs.

 

Related information

Stories

2003 UEFA Cup Final Index

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video