Mourinho Credits Messi For Shaping His Growth As Manager

Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho has revealed that Lionel Messi is the player who influenced his career the most, describing the Argentine as an opponent who constantly forced him to improve his tactical approach.

Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, first came across Mourinho in November 2003 when Barcelona faced Porto in a friendly match. At the time, Messi was making his first appearance with the Catalan club’s senior side, while Mourinho was in charge of Porto.

Their encounters became more frequent and intense years later when Mourinho managed Real Madrid. His Madrid teams were locked in fierce battles with Messi’s Barcelona in LaLiga, producing some of the most memorable fixtures in Spanish football.

Mourinho also came up against Messi in the Champions League, notably with Chelsea and Inter Milan. One of the most famous duels came in 2010, when Mourinho’s Inter eliminated Barcelona in the semi-finals on their way to winning the treble.

Reflecting on those years, Mourinho told Sporty Net: “Messi, because every time I played against him he forced me to think a lot.”

The Portuguese manager, known for his tactical mastery, has faced several world-class players during a career spanning more than two decades. However, he singled out Messi as the rival who pushed him to adapt, innovate, and sharpen his coaching methods.

Now at Fenerbahce, Mourinho continues to bring his wealth of experience to the touchline.

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