José Mourinho's Netflix documentary arrives with provocative claims
José Mourinho delivers the line “You don’t do a documentary with a guy who wins nothing” in the trailer for his new Netflix film, which is due to reach screens on Tuesday. The trailer and accompanying publicity have generated renewed attention for the Portuguese coach.
Since 2017, Mourinho’s only piece of silverware is the 2021-22 Tin Pot with Roma, and the documentary arrives amid reminders that he failed to win anything with Tottenham, Fenerbahce or Benfica. The film includes retired talking heads discussing achievements from around 20 years ago and leans on nostalgia for his earlier success at Porto, Chelsea and Inter, and occasionally at Real Madrid. The programme’s promotional material and timing mean it is likely to attract a wide audience.
Mourinho uses the documentary to advance a personal narrative about his career, claiming he was set to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. “I go to Chelsea in 2013 but in that period there is something nobody knows,” he says in the trailer. He follows that with: “When I left Real Madrid [the first time], I signed with Manchester United to go to United after Sir Alex.”
Sir Alex Ferguson, who also appears in the film, recounts a phone call from Mourinho: “He phoned me and he was crying. And he says: ‘Alex, I can’t take it – I’ve given my word to Chelsea, and I’m not going to break my word.’ The reason he gave to me I could understand, but I was disappointed.” The documentary presents these exchanges alongside archival material and commentary.
The trailer recalls Mourinho’s habit of framing pragmatic results in grand terms, such as equating cagey 1-0 wins at Chelsea with playing like Brazil ’82. The film’s editing emphasises how he has shaped perceptions of his own career, with contributors revisiting triumphs from two decades earlier. The promotional tone suggests Mourinho remains a commercially compelling figure irrespective of recent results.
Derek McInnes is quoted on the current state of Rangers and their start to the Scottish Premiership: “It’s 15 years of frustration here at this club. Nobody knows that more than me … Every Rangers team is a byproduct of that frustration. The Rangers fans just want to see their team winning and so do I. And we will get there. I’m not going to ask the fans for more patience because I think the Rangers fans have been patient enough” — following their 2-1 home defeat to Hibs that leaves them five points behind Celtic after two games.
Reader correspondence featured several letters: Ken Muir writes, “Having boycotted the Geopolitics World Cup due to my dislike of Fifa, Infantino, Trump, etc and therefore having nothing to write about, I’m now ready to pick up my quill and parchment once more. Even allowing for my team, Hearts’, disjointed recent hire and exits, I do think we have had incredibly bad luck in all our European draws. First it was Sturm Graz, now Benfica, and next, in Tin Pot, it seems likely we’ll get Rapid Vienna. I’ve actually heard of every one of these teams. Why couldn’t we have got some other made-up team from an even worse league than the Scottish Premiership? Or is getting out of Europe before the end of August the only thing that might help us in the league?” Dave Lambley’s letter — the day’s winner — says, “I enjoyed the link to the Rivaldo article from 2002 (Friday’s Football Daily). It came complete with the quaint idea that a Serie A giant with Big Cup football could offer more wages than Spurs. Anyone under 30 would find the idea laughable” and Giuseppe recalls, “How beautiful St James’ Park was (Friday’s Memory Lane, full email edition). It really did remind me of the old Luigi Ferraris, where I spent nearly every Sunday in the early 80s. My mate was supporting the cyclists (Sampdoria) and me, of course, Genoa … we were taking each other to the home matches. I only went once to the one rebuilt for Italia 90 and found it so ugly and soulless. Some background in one of the local TV archives”. If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today's letter o' the day winner is … Dave Lambley, who gets some Football Weekly merch. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
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