The renowned Portuguese manager, Jose Mourinho, recently opened up about his fondness for African players and cited their loyalty as a major factor.
Throughout his career, Mourinho has had the privilege of working with several African footballers, including Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Solomon Kalou, and the Ghanaian duo of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari, among others.
During an interview on the Vibe on Five Podcast, Mourinho emphasized his admiration for African players, stating, “Every time I go to Africa I cannot walk. The guys, they love me. Even in Europe many of the African guys love me. And to be honest, I love the guys and I feel that the African player is very loyal and very pure. Many of them call me daddy and some of them are almost my age.”
Mourinho even shared a light-hearted anecdote about his close bond with Michael Essien, saying, “When Essien calls me daddy, I say ‘Come on Michael, don’t call me daddy you are almost my age.” This playful banter showcases the strong rapport that Mourinho has developed with his African players over the years.
It comes as no surprise that Mourinho holds African footballers in high regard, considering the success he achieved with the likes of Essien and Muntari during their time together at Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively.
