Topic: Jose Mourinho

April 17, 2012

The Definite Article

Scott Oliver

However much authority the José Mourinho that walked into the press conference on that warm July day in 2004 could mobilize, the one that walked out was one of rare, maybe unsurpassed authority who had literally seduced most of the press pack. Thereafter, The Special One would have his Anglophone audience largely eating out of his hand for the remainder of his three-and-a-bit years in charge at Chelsea.

April 16, 2012

FC Santísimo

Fredorrarci

A rare and special excerpt from a forthcoming novel torn from the headlines: A man dares damnation to have his revenge on tiki-taka.

December 9, 2011

The Herald of Galácticos

Fredorrarci

Whereas most clubs are scruffy hamlets hoping the world hasn't forgotten them completely, Real Madrid and Barcelona are empires. They are masters of self-aggrandisement, all royal flash and ermine undergarments. When two great pomposities meet, the results are spectacular and inevitable, in the same way the dying sun swallowing the Earth will be spectacular and inevitable, except that we get to witness this particular supernova via television and web streams of dubious legality.

December 9, 2011

Manufacturing Assent

Elliott Turner

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho must deal with elected presidents and shifting political allegiances. The guy (or gal) who hired them will probably not be the one to fire them. And Real Madrid and Barcelona have especially bitter recent political histories.