Jose Mourinho is arguably the greatest manager in world football, so he knows a thing or two about what makes a good coach.
The Chelsea boss also knows the Premier League inside-out thanks to his two stints at Stamford Bridge, during which he has won three league titles, the FA Cup, three League Cups and the illustrious Charity Shield.
But despite enjoying a glittering career at the top of the game, Mourinho’s ideal choice to manage an English club – in a hypothetical situation in which he’s the owner – is a far more humble candidate.
Step forward, Tony Pulis.
“It’s simple,” said Mourinho. “If I own an English club, which I don’t and which I’d never do, I’d sign Tony Pulis. It’s as simple as that.
“It’s a guarantee to achieve what the club wants. He never managed a club that wants to be champions. He never managed a club that wants a top four place. He’s always managed clubs who want to survive and who want stability, and he’s mathematic: what the club wants, he gives.”
It wouldn’t be the first pick of many football fans, but Mourinho is adamant that Pulis is one of the best bosses around.
“His record is absolutely amazing, and he does some people don’t understand – but I do – and what other people sometimes don’t rate, but I do,” he continued.
“Which is the relation between what the manager wants and what the team is.
“Tony’s teams are exactly what he wants, exactly what he prepares a team to be. This is the most difficult thing in football. Philosophy is a beautiful thing but football is more than that. Tony is a great example of that.”
