Jose Mourinho has candidly described his past role at Barcelona as a “big bulls***,” revealing it was more than just a translator's job. This bold statement comes from the new Netflix documentary MOURINHO, which chronicles the illustrious career of the iconic Portuguese coach.

At 63, Mourinho recently began his second spell as Real Madrid coach, but his journey started in the 1990s when he served as an interpreter for the late Sir Bobby Robson at Barcelona. In the documentary, archival audio features Robson praising Mourinho’s potential, stating:

• “Jose is a good-looking chap, very shy – a bit nervous perhaps – but at the same time, he had an air of confidence about him.”
• “He had a very small, minor coaching qualification, but he was bright.”

Mourinho reflects on this period, asserting, “It’s a big bulls***, the translator job.” He elaborates that he fulfilled multiple roles beyond translation, including:

• Goalkeeper coach
• Analyst
• Scout

He emphasizes that his university studies in sports science equipped him to contribute significantly to the team, stating, “If you speak English and nobody else does, that doesn’t mean that you are a translator.”

Mourinho hints that his experience as Robson’s assistant mirrors his days as a ball boy, where he learned the game under his father, who was also a manager. Following his tenure at Barcelona, Mourinho achieved notable success, including winning the Champions League with Porto, two Premier League titles with Chelsea, and a second Champions League trophy with Inter Milan. His extensive coaching journey continued with stints at Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce, and Benfica, culminating in his return to Madrid this summer.