Jose Mourinho's new three-part Netflix docuseries, titled 'MOURINHO,' provides an unprecedented look at the football manager's personal and professional life, revealing moments of vulnerability and significant career decisions. The series explores the "Special One's" journey through his 30-year coaching career, featuring insights from prominent figures in the sport.
In one particularly emotional segment, Mourinho is shown struggling to suppress tears when asked about processing his father's death while managing Manchester United in 2017. This moment highlights a side of the manager rarely seen publicly, as he attempts to maintain his enigmatic persona.
Mourinho expressed a desire for the documentary to focus on his illustrious career, which includes 26 major trophies across Portugal, England, Spain, and Italy, rather than his private life. "People think they know me, but they don’t know me," he states in the series. "And I’m happy they don’t. It’s a privilege for the people that know me."
Despite Mourinho's wishes for privacy, the documentary, directed by Joe Pearlman and produced by John Battsek, manages to offer glimpses into the man behind the public image. It touches upon how his children "enjoy life more without me" and the profound influence his father had on shaping him.
The series delves into the "box office rollercoaster" of Mourinho's career, incorporating interviews with former players and colleagues such as Frank Lampard, John Terry, Sir Alex Ferguson, Iker Casillas, and Zlatan Ibrahimović. These figures offer varied perspectives on Mourinho's impact, with some detailing positive experiences and others, like Iker Casillas, describing a "very cold" relationship during his tenure at Real Madrid.
The documentary does not shy away from controversial aspects of Mourinho's career. It revisits his successes, such as leading Inter Milan to a Champions League triumph, but also addresses difficult periods, including an acrimonious departure from Real Madrid and a settlement with former Chelsea club doctor Eva Carneiro.
One of the most significant revelations in the series is Mourinho's admission that he had verbally agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013. He ultimately changed his mind, seeking to feel "loved" again, which led him to rejoin Chelsea instead. "The objective of the work that we are doing is to tell the truth," Mourinho says regarding this revelation.
The series also includes lesser-known details, such as Mourinho's discussions about returning to Barcelona in 2008 and his long-standing dislike of being referred to as "the translator."