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José Mourinho: The general who fell out of time

2019-11-05T14:22:47.935Z


José Mourinho has been without a coaching job for a year. Although it is often traded as in Munich, but there is no demand. His style of destructive in the game and in the human leadership has become obsolete.



Fourteen days ago the postman rang. He brought a letter with a brown envelope and black-red-golden stamp, addressed to "Mr. José Mourinho, Champion Street, London". The Portuguese coach gratefully accepted and patted the messenger contentedly on the cheek.

A job offer from Munich or Dortmund, by registered mail? No, just a good joke. The scene is part of a betting promotion video broadcast for the first time at the end of October, featuring Mourinho as a top retired at home amusing gardening and exploring new offerings, while in the background the soul classic "Mr Big Stuff" (Jean Knight) droning. The strategically placed in the living room shelf "Teach Yourself German" book may not be missing. The 56-year-old learns according to his own statement yes diligently German.

The times of free choice of top clubs are over

Interesting is the mid-way between self-irony and Selbstmytholosierung settled clip but above all, because he applies less to the money-making bookmaker as Mourinho personally. The "Special One", unemployed since December 2018, is very sociable. He lovingly even caresses a gray Weimaraner, who, following the former Chelsea striker Drogba, hears the name Didier. Note: If you like animals, you can not be such a bad dog.

The image campaign, which also includes regular appearances as a studio expert on the British Sky TV channel, comes fittingly to the wet-cold coach termination period. A milestone has already reached them: from island-based media Mourinho these days is reflexively associated with any reasonably available job.

However, anyone who asks around in the industry quickly realizes that actual demand is (still) limited. Florentino Pérez, the club boss of Real Madrid, is indeed regarded as an outspoken fan; Dortmund's managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke are also said to have sympathy for the egocentric sideline maestro. However, the days when "Mou" was able to fly a bee looking for nectar from one top club to the next are over.

A basic conflict that depletes all participants

His promise - maximum, immediate success - has lost much of its appeal due to numerous risks and side effects. At the weekend, Arsenal broke away from rumors that the former Porto and Chelsea coach could succeed Unai Emery. Sources close to Mourinho had previously reported on a dinner with Arsenal CEO Raul Sanllehi.

The fact that the man from the Atlantic city of Setúbal has a scratch-and-bite football often aimed solely at exploiting enemy weaknesses is still the slightest evil. More problematic are the consequences of this orientation. Since he led the troop-organized veterans troupe of Inter to Champions League victory in 2010, he met at Real Madrid, Chelsea (second term) and most recently Manchester United regularly on clubs or stars who are not completely subject to the dictates of the destruction wanted to.

REUTERS

At Manchester United, his most recent coaching station, José Mourinho (front) defeated with his only world star Paul Pogba (back)

The more talented the players, the lower their willingness to limit themselves to isolated guerilla attacks and otherwise the opponent to take the fun. This basic conflict is initially invigorating, exhausted at this level, but after two years at the latest, everyone involved, since neither team nor coach really happy with each other.

At United, there was even a dispute with the chef

Mourinho knows about this dilemma and therefore always strives for the absolute authority over the squad composition. However, in 2019, well-managed top clubs are entertainment companies for which winning trophies is only part of the business. They also want to tell the audience exciting stories, market their great heroes. And they want coaches who act as value creators, transforming good, middle-aged players into superstitious luminaries. However, Mourinho has never been interested in all these things.

And over the years he seems to have lost the ability - or the desire - to bring the employees with their considerable charm in line. Obviously, Manchester United's recent break with world-class footballer Paul Pogba unsettled the existing workforce with ferocious demands for reinforcements and did not take any talented youngsters like Marcus Rashford any further. Even with the cook there was a dispute: Mourinho had always complained about the canteen food.

The Times once compared its rabid leadership methods with an ancient general who always leaves scorched earth behind. Hardly anyone wants to surrender to this destructive storm, especially not with the Munich players, who are always trembling with too much coaching power and are looking for a new coach after finishing Niko Kovac, but prefer other candidates.

Post from Germany is therefore currently only in the promotional video, there is time for the garden. Until Real President Pérez dismisses his coach Zinedine Zidane.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2019-11-05

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