Shaun Wright-Phillips Finds Strictly Partner 'Scarier' Than Jose Mourinho
The former footballer compares the intensity of his dance partner to his former Chelsea manager.
Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips has suggested that his professional dance partner on Strictly Come Dancing, Alexis Warr, is more intimidating than his former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho, known for his strict disciplinary approach during his tenure at Stamford Bridge in the mid-2000s, imposed a set of demanding rules on his squad, including a zero-tolerance policy for lateness and fines for misconduct. Wright-Phillips played under the Portuguese coach during this period.
However, the ex-England winger, 44, now competing on the BBC One show, indicated that Warr's intensity surpasses that of the renowned coach. "I would say Alexis is most probably scarier," Wright-Phillips told The Mail on Sunday. "But Mourinho is unpredictable, so you never know when it’s coming. I’m kind of prepared for when Alexis is coming, so I’ll just be like, alright, I’m just done. I’ll do it again. And it’s scary."
Wright-Phillips also shared that his adoptive father, former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, recently witnessed his training sessions. Despite initially describing his son’s first dance as “stiff,” Ian Wright offered words of encouragement, understanding the complexities involved in learning the routines.
Reflecting on his football career, Wright-Phillips believes former teammate John Terry would be a strong contender for the Strictly series, citing Terry's dancing abilities. "He is actually a very good dancer. And I’ve seen him in action quite a few times," Wright-Phillips stated, though he questioned whether Terry would perform live in front of an audience and cameras.
Wright-Phillips, who recently performed a Quickstep to The Monkees' "I'm a Believer," has received support from his football friends via WhatsApp groups. He expressed a desire for them to see a different side of him, acknowledging that being outside his comfort zone is a significant challenge. "But still I’m way out of my comfort zone, so it’s learning to basically transfer how I was from the football pitch onto say the dance floor with all different people in the audience."