José Mourinho, renowned for his illustrious managerial career spanning over 1,000 games, has only experienced tears once following a defeat, a testament to his resilience in the face of setbacks.
The 61-year-old, famously dubbed the ‘Special One,’ boasts an impressive trophy collection garnered from successful stints at clubs like Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid.
During his tenure at the Bernabeu, Mourinho achieved a remarkable win percentage of 71.9% across three seasons, clinching 128 victories, 28 draws, and enduring 22 losses. Among these defeats, three came in the semi-final stages of the Champions League.
One particular loss that left a lasting impact occurred in 2012 when Real Madrid faced Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals. Despite a valiant effort, the match ended in a heartbreaking defeat for Mourinho’s side after a tense penalty shoot-out that saw Cristiano Ronaldo miss a rare spot-kick.
Reflecting on that fateful night, Mourinho confessed to Spanish news outlet Marca about the profound emotional toll it took on him: “Unfortunately, that’s football. Cristiano, Kaka, Sergio Ramos… three complete monsters of football, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re also human.
That night is the only time in my career as a coach that I’ve cried after a defeat.”
He further revealed the depth of his sorrow in an interview with Portuguese TV channel Sic, labeling the elimination as the saddest moment of his career: “If I have to choose the worst moment, it’s that elimination with Real Madrid.
We were the best team in Europe, without a doubt, we won La Liga smashing all the records for points and goals and we would’ve won that final, I don’t have any doubt. What was most cruel for me was that in the shoot-out we chose Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Sergio Ramos, they were dead certs from the penalty spot and the guys who missed were those who never miss, it sunk me.”
