SINCE arriving in the Premier League in 2004, controversy has followed Jose Mourinho at every turn.
Mourinho’s Manchester United side triumphed over West Ham 4-1 to advance to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.
United were forced to go without their controversial Portuguese manager due to his recent one game touchline ban for kicking a water bottle in frustration at referee John Moss’ decision to award £89-million-pound record signing Paul Pogba a yellow card for simulation.
This is only the most recent in a very long history of controversies for Mourinho in his career.
Mourinho was also sent to the stands, fined £50,000 and given a one game stadium ban when he played West Ham last season for taking exception to a decision made by referee John Moss.
The then Chelsea manager was having a difficult season and the referee’s decision to send off key central midfielder Nemanja Matic lead Mourinho to look to confront Moss in the referee’s room, an act strictly banned by the FA.
In 2005 Mourinho was given a ban for a contrasting series of events, whereby he accused then Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard of visiting the referees room in order to influence him during his Chelsea side’s Champions League game in 2005.
The more the media and the rival fans criticize Mourinho, the more we support him. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/oRWeiwjZnL
— Fergie's Fledglings (@RedDevilTimes) December 1, 2016
Following the game, the referee Anders Frisk announced his retirement due to death threats made against his family by Chelsea fans angry at the result.
The UEFA’s chief referee, Volker Roth labelled Mourinho an “enemy of football”. Mourinho was handed a two game touchline ban and fined by UEFA after the game.
Arguably Mourinho’s most controversial moment in recent times would be the very public row with physio Eva Carneiro which ultimately cost the 53-year-old his job.
Carneiro sued Mourinho for alleged victimisation and sexual discrimination after an incident on the opening day of the 2014/15 season against Swansea City.
During the game star man Eden Hazard went down injured, Hazard called for medical attention and the referee obliged, calling them onto the pitch.
Mourinho was reportedly furious with Carneiro and the club’s physio Jon Fearn, publically slamming the pair repeatedly until Carneiro left Chelsea in September of that year.
Chelsea fan Josh Buckpitt believes that the Carneiro saga has left Mourinho a different manager, “I think the entire case with Eva has taken its toll on him and he’s totally lost it. He’s lost almost every inch of the game. He lost the dressing room at Chelsea and goes to United expecting it all to be different.”
During his three-year spell at Spanish Giants Real Madrid, Mourinho didn’t escape the controversy that have marred his time in England.
The 2011 Supercopa de España final against Barcelona was marred in controversy.
Mourinho was handed a two game touchline ban following the match as he was seen to poke then Barcelona assistant manager Tito Vilanova in the eye during a brawl caused by a wild challenge by Real Madrid full back Marcelo.
Mourinho was also seen to make gestures towards Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Dani Alves as well as accusing Barcelona’s ball boys of wasting time in order to give their side an unfair advantage.
Jose Mourinho has already had a rollercoaster year but Manchester United fans are watching on hoping that his time in Manchester doesn’t end similarly to his previous high profile departures from Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Mourinho is hoping that his Manchester United side can reach a cup final at the start of next year when his side play Hull City in the cup semi-final with a place in the final at Wembley at stake.
A piece of silverware this season would go a long way to put Jose’s Man United tenure on the right path.
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