What We're Reading
Spain Says Adios to Mourinho
- ESPN FC, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 11:58 AM
Following the news on Monday that Jose Mourinho’s three-year reign as Real Madrid coach will end after the club’s last game of the season against Osasuna on June 1,
Spain’s sports newspapers almost couldn’t contain their joy. Their obvious disdain for ‘The Special One’ notwithstanding, several reports claimed the facts spoke for
themselves. Diego Torres of El Pais noted: “Of all the coaches who have been awarded three years to work at Madrid, Mourinho has the worst results in terms of trophies
won.” He won three trophies: the 2010/2011 Copa del Rey, the 2011/2012 La Liga, and the 2012 Supercopa de Espana.
Catalan paper Mundo Deportivo referred to Mourinho’s
departure as yet another victory for its beloved Barcelona, while pointing to the title count during the Portuguese’s reign: 8-3 in Barca’s favor. Fittingly, Barca vice president Carles Vilarrubi was the most scathing in
his assessment of the outgoing Real coach: "Mourinho has been a blight on Spanish soccer," he said. "His leaving is positive. A negative climate was generated."
Meanwhile, in London, Chelsea vice captain Frank Lampard once again heaped praise on Mourinho, who coached
Chelsea from 2004-2007 and is expected to return to Stamford Bridge this summer. "He might rub people up the wrong way. [But] as a manager, he's brilliant with his team, tactically, he's brilliant
with individuals and I think he's brilliant with the press,” Lampard said. “I know it creates a storm, but he does protect his players…Mourinho was the best. For me he was. He
brought my confidence to a level it had never been."
