Jose Mourinho has admitted he still feels a connection with Manchester United and all the clubs he has managed - but not Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho endured a typically short and fiery spell in charge of United between 2016 and 2018, winning the Europa League and League Cup in his first season but seeing a two-and-a-half year stint overshadowed by controversies during press conferences.
The Portuguese left Old Trafford in December 2018, going on first to manage Tottenham - where he was sacked days before a Carabao Cup final - and then Roma in 2021, who he guided to a Europa Conference League triumph last season.
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The 60-year-old has travelled across Europe managing some of the continent's biggest sides, and recently admitted that he retains a connection with most - but not all.
"The reality is, and I hope Tottenham fans don’t get me wrong, but the only club in my career where I don't still have a deep feeling is Tottenham," Mourinho said. "Probably because the stadium was empty - Covid times - probably because Mr Levy didn't let me win a final and a trophy, but it's the only one. After that, Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester United, all the clubs I feel a connection
"Maybe people [say I] cannot love every club. Yes, I love every club because I always felt [love] the other way, they also love me. So with Roma, one day [leaving] will be hard but we will be connected forever like I am with all my previous clubs apart from Mr Levy’s club."
Mourinho took charge of United in May 2016, signing a three-year deal after replacing Louis van Gaal who was sacked just two days after winning the FA Cup. The fiery Portuguese divided opinion with regards to his management style, but brought success in his first season with the EFL Cup and Europa League double.
The season-and-a-half that followed brought some improvements in the league, with United ending the 2017/2018 campaign as Premier League and FA Cup runners-up, but not enough to outweigh multiple off-pitch controversies.
Most infamously, after a Champions League last-16 exit to Sevilla in his second year in charge, Mourinho went on a 12-minute rant in defence of his European credentials, armed with United's finishing positions since 2013 and including his brief spell to that point.
Within two games of the following season, a 3-0 defeat to Spurs again sent Mourinho into an animated rant, demanding 'respect' from journalists who had criticised him and holding up three fingers as he left - referencing the three Premier League titles he had won.
Mourinho was sacked in December 2018 with just seven wins from 17 league games during the 2018/2019 campaign.
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