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Manchester United: Success, failure and Mourinho’s three-season syndrome

By Uzair Madhani

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 14, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 14, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 18: Head coach Jose Mourinho (R) of Real Madrid instructs Cristiano Ronaldo during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 18, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 18: Head coach Jose Mourinho (R) of Real Madrid instructs Cristiano Ronaldo during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 18, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) /

Real Madrid

With his second Champions League in the bag, he took on an even greater challenge: dethroning Barcelona as the kings of Spain. His time in the Spanish capital was tumultuous.

There were great expectations on his Real Madrid side. Cristiano Ronaldo was entering his prime. Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos were part of an expensive supporting cast.

The Portuguese manager did manage to win the Copa del Rey in his first season at the club and followed it up with a league title the following year. The 2011-12 vintage of Real Madrid was a sight to behold, scoring 121 goals and accruing 100 points to win the league ahead of Barcelona.

MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 20: Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates Cristiano Ronaldo (L), Sergio Ramos (2ndL), Pepe (2ndR) and Mezut Ozil (R) during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and RC Deportivo La Coruna at Bernabeu on October 20, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 20: Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates Cristiano Ronaldo (L), Sergio Ramos (2ndL), Pepe (2ndR) and Mezut Ozil (R) during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and RC Deportivo La Coruna at Bernabeu on October 20, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /

The sweet taste of victory was short-lived, however. Mourinho’s old problems reared their heads. There were constant issues in terms of bickering with other coaches, including a particularly unsavory incident where he poked Tito Vilanova in the eye.

The biggest issue was the unrest in the dressing room. Mourinho fell out with club captain Casillas, with Ronaldo, with Benzema. Pepe publicly criticised Mourinho for his treatment of Casillas at one point, leading to the centre-back getting dropped for the Copa del Rey final in 2013.

There were also questions about Mourinho’s transfer policy. Fabio Coentrao was an unmitigated disaster. Luka Modric was slow to adapt to La Liga. Angel di Maria flitted in and out of games.

The lack of Champions League success did not help him, and with Barcelona still in the ascendancy, in the summer of 2013, Florentino Perez fired Mourinho.

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