Jose Mourinho is still number one in the eyes of former Inter star Wesley Sneijder.
On Thursday, the Portuguese coach celebrates his 60th birthday and returns to Italian football with Roma, whom he led to glory in the first season of the 2021-22 UEFA Conference League.
This triumph was Mourinho’s fifth continental title, having won the Champions League with Porto and Inter, the UEFA Cup with Porto and the Europa League with Manchester United.
The 2009-2010 season, when Mourinho won three wins at Inter, is one of the highlights of his illustrious career, and Sneijder was part of the squad that dominated the Nerazzurri’s most famous campaign.
The great Portuguese had success in La Liga with Real Madrid and also led Chelsea to the Premier League title during his second team spell, which came before an EFL Cup and Europa League victory with United.
However, he was sacked by both clubs and Tottenham Hotspur before joining Roma, and Mourinho’s reputation is believed by some to have suffered.
However, Sneijder still puts Mourinho above his rival managers.
“I have great memories of him, especially when we won the Champions League. He was very determined and was so confident that we would win this match,” he told Stats Perform.
“He knows exactly how to deal with his players on the pitch, but especially off the pitch. As I said, under him there was no need for a chairman, he protected all the players.
“He’s still number one for me.”
Happy birthday to the first coach to win all three current UEFA men’s club competitions! Jose Mourinho #UKL pic.twitter.com/ojb2jz72Qb
— UEFA Conference League (@europacnfleague) January 26, 2023
After leading Roma to sixth place in Serie A last season, Mourinho’s team is now in the midst of a fierce battle to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League.
Roma are in fifth place, equal on points with Inter and Lazio ahead of them, and only three points separate AC Milan, in second place, from Atalanta, in sixth place.
With so many opponents in trouble this season, Sneijder thinks Mourinho and Roma have a great opportunity to take advantage.
“Of course he is fine there. As you said, Milan, Inter and Juventus with all their problems are a bit in trouble right now, so now is the right time. [for Roma],” he added.
“But now there is Napoli, who are doing great in Serie A and in the Champions League. Beating Napoli will be difficult, but Roma can beat everyone else.”