Jose Mourinho is hardly known as one of the world’s most affable managers these days, but the former Manchester United and Tottenham boss was more than happy to give up his time to help a coach on the UEFA Pro Licence course.
Mourinho has developed a reputation as something of a spiky character in his dealings with the media – and seemingly endured fractured relationships with some of his players at United and Spurs.
However, the 55-year-old has also been described as a father figure by many of the players he has worked with over the years, and when Ben Garner asked for help while taking his coaching badges in 2014, Mourinho went above and beyond.
“You had to interview a manager or coach and take some lessons from them,” says Garner, who became Charlton manager in 2022.
“I was very fortunate that Jose Mourinho agreed to do it for me, and he was fantastic. I couldn’t speak highly enough of what he did.
“I went in on a Sunday when they were training and I asked for 15 minutes of his time to ask some questions. He ended up giving me over an hour. His answers were so open and really honest.
“For someone who’s similar to me, in that he’s educated himself and worked his way up through youth football at different levels, it was a really good experience.
“He let me watch training afterwards as well, so it’s nice for someone of that stature to offer his time and experiences.”
The Mourinho that Garner describes is a stark contrast to the man who has made his sharp tongue known to the national press, but it certainly didn’t come as a surprise to the former Crystal Palace and West Brom first-team coach.
“Every time I’ve met him, after games when we’ve played against his teams, he’s always been such a nice guy,” Garner says. “Very down to earth and very warm.
“He always gets people asking for photographs and autographs, he’s always very accommodating. He always comes across to me as a very generous and warm person.
“I think how he is, in terms of the media, is probably a different side of the coin. I can only speak through my own experiences, but I’ve always known him to be very genuine and very helpful.”
Expert insight
The UEFA Pro Licence is the highest coaching certification available and is a mandatory qualification for managers in the Premier League.
It follows the UEFA B and A Licences, but while those courses are more focused on the practical art of coaching, the Pro Licence is more about management…
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