Mourinho picks his best XI from all the players he’s managed

Jose Mourinho is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all-time and is amongst the most iconic coaches of the modern era, the Portuguese winning eight league titles and two Champions League trophies during a coaching career spent at some of Europe’s leading clubs.

The current Tottenham manager has previously enjoyed spells at the likes of Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United and has now compiled a dream XI of the finest talents he has managed throughout an illustrious career.

Spanish publication Marca have been compiling dream teams from some of the game’s biggest names, with Mourinho’s side certainly a formidable proposition.

Here is the Portuguese’s best XI of players he’s managed:

Right-back: Javier Zanetti

One of the greatest servants in the history of Inter Milan and a stalwart of Mourinho’s two-year spell at the San Siro, Zanetti captained the Italian side during their famed treble-winning season of 2010.

The Argentine played more minutes than any other player during a historic campaign for the Nerazzurri, lifting Serie A and the Coppa Italia in addition to Inter’s first Champions League title for 45 years, Mourinho’s side becoming the first in Italian history to achieve the Treble.

Centre-back: John Terry

Captain of three title-winning sides over Mourinho’s two spells as Chelsea manager, fewer players have contributed to the Portuguese’s legacy in English football quite like John Terry.

The former England captain was named as the PFA Player of the Year during Mourinho’s first Premier League triumph in 2005, before playing an influential role during a trophy-laden spell at Stamford Bridge.

Regarded by many as the greatest defenders in both Chelsea and Premier League history, Terry won seven major honours under Mourinho’s management.

Centre-back: Ricardo Carvalho

Carvalho starred at the heart of a Porto defence which conquered Europe in shock fashion under Mourinho, before following his compatriot to English football ahead of his first season at Chelsea.

The centre-back won two league titles and two League Cups at Stamford Bridge before rejoining Mourinho once more, heading to Real Madrid in 2010 and adding one Copa Del Rey and a La Liga title to his collection.

The classy Carvalho was a firm Mourinho favourite at three different clubs throughout his career, winning 13 honours under his stewardship.

Left-back: William Gallas

A surprise inclusion at left-back in Mourinho’s side, given the presence of both Ashley Cole and Marcelo amongst the list of players coached by Jose throughout his lengthy managerial career.

Gallas – a centre-back by trade – filled in admirably at left-back during Chelsea’s back-to-back title successes under Mourinho in 2005 and 2006, before forming part of the deal that brought Cole to Stamford Bridge from Arsenal.

Midfield: Claude Makelele

Makelele was amongst a host of leading stars inherited by Mourinho upon his arrival as Chelsea manager, though the Frenchman proved to be a hugely influential player during a dominant period for the west London side.

Few players are that good that they have a designated role named after them, but Makelele’s defensive displays at the base of the midfield earned him that honourable distinction.

The former Real Madrid star made over 200 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, winning two league titles and three domestic cups.

Midfield: Frank Lampard

The sixth Chelsea player to be included in this dream XI, Lampard was at the heart of the club’s most memorable moments of the Mourinho eras.

Named as the FWA Footballer of the Year and runner-up for the Ballon d’Or during the club’s drought-breaking title in 2005, Lampard scored prolifically from midfield for Mourinho’s side to secure consecutive league titles.

The midfielder scored 60 goals in all competitions over the Portuguese’s three full seasons in charge at Stamford Bridge, establishing himself as one of the most iconic players of the Premier League era and currently sitting as the fifth-highest goalscorer in the division’s history.

Midfield: Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil’s stock may have fallen somewhat after an indifferent recent period in Arsenal colours, but the German remains a Mourinho favourite and thrived under his management during their time together at Real Madrid.

Ozil arrived at the Bernabeu shortly after Mourinho’s appointment and starred during a three-season spell, winning both the Copa Del Rey and La Liga during his time with Los Blancos.

He finished as the leading assist provider in both La Liga and the Champions League during his time at Madrid, proving the perfect creative supply line for the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo.

Forward: Eden Hazard

Hazard’s seven-year spell in English football saw the winger flourish into one of the Premier League’s leading talents, but it was arguably Mourinho who extracted the very best from the brilliant Belgian at Chelsea.

The Portuguese’s second spell at Stamford Bridge saw a third league title secured, largely in thanks to the stand-out performances of Hazard – the Chelsea star scoring 19 goals in all competitions to be named as the PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s status as one of football’s all-time greats is firmly assured and earns his place in Mourinho’s dream XI, the Portuguese superstar enjoying the most prolific period of his career under his compatriot scoring 168 goals in all competitions over just three seasons.

Ronaldo’s goals helped fire Real Madrid to Copa Del Rey and La Liga success, scoring the winning goal in the final of the former while hitting 46 goals in just 38 league games as the capital club were crowned champions of Spain – finishing the season with a record 100 points and 121 goals scored.

Forward: Didier Drogba

Perhaps no player emphasised Mourinho’s ‘us against the world’ mentality at Chelsea more than Didier Drogba, the powerful Ivorian spearhead who was reportedly reduced to tears upon the manager’s departure from Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho has referred to Drogba as ‘the man he would take into war with him’ and his inclusion in this side is no surprise, the forward developing into one of the Premier League’s leading marksman at Chelsea.

A talismanic figure for the west London side, Drogba won back-to-back titles during Mourinho’s first spell at the club, before returning to rejoin the Portuguese in 2014 and adding a third Premier League crown together.

Drogba scored 164 goals in 381 appearances over two spells, winning 12 major honours including four league titles. andthe Champions League.