By JOSEPH PALMER

Published: 17:24 BST, 3 April 2025 | Updated: 17:42 BST, 3 April 2025

Jose Mourinho is no longer ‘relevant’ in European football and uses on-the-pitch antics to distract from an inability to adapt his tactics for the modern game, argues Ian Ladyman on the latest ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ podcast.

Former Real Madrid and Chelsea coach Mourinho has become embroiled in a scandal in Turkey after seemingly squeezing the nose of an opposing coach.

Mourinho, now manager of Fenerbahce, was recorded touching Galatasaray’s Okan Buruk after the final whistle had blown on a fiercely contested Turkish Cup tie.

The Mail’s Football Editor Ian Ladyman labelled the incident as emblematic of how Mourinho has chosen to ‘grow old disgracefully’ after once being billed as one of the best and most tactically dynamic coaches in the world.

‘Mourinho is growing old and growing old disgracefully’, Ladyman told Mail Sport’s Dominic King.

‘Nothing’s changed. The only thing that has changed is that he doesn’t win anymore. I think that eats away at him, the lack of relevance.

‘He’s relevant with his words, he’s relevant in Turkey because he is the manager of a huge club in Istanbul, but in the grand scheme of European football, he’s not.

‘I think it kills him – he needs to be in the spotlight.’

Mourinho was recorded touching Galatasaray's Okan Buruk after the final whistle had blown on a fiercely contested Turkish Cup tie

Mourinho was recorded touching Galatasaray’s Okan Buruk after the final whistle had blown on a fiercely contested Turkish Cup tie

Ian Ladyman: 'Mourinho is growing old and growing old disgracefully'

Ian Ladyman: ‘Mourinho is growing old and growing old disgracefully’

King told Ladyman it was 'playground stuff' compared to other bust-ups Mourinho had in the past

King told Ladyman it was ‘playground stuff’ compared to other bust-ups Mourinho had in the past

Ladyman went further saying Mourinho’s inability to adapt his tactics to meet the demands of modern football will mean he will not be remembered as a ‘truly great coach’.

Mourinho has won several major honours: three Premier Leagues, one LaLiga trophy, and two Champions Leagues with Porto and Inter Milan respectively.

Ladyman explained: ‘Look at Carlo Ancelotti – Carlo has managed to evolve the way that he plays and the way he handles players, as well as how he handles the life of a football coach. Mourinho hasn’t managed to do that.

‘The shock and awe stuff he used so brilliantly at Chelsea and Inter, those tactics don’t work anymore.

‘We know that the truly great coaches evolve as they get older, and Jose hasn’t.’

On the ‘nose pinching’ incident specifically, King told Ladyman it was ‘playground stuff’ compared to other bust-ups with rival coaches Mourinho has had in the past.

‘This incident is pantomime’, he said.

‘It’s a little flick around the ear or something. There’s no way though that it doesn’t warrant a reaction. He shouldn’t have done it.

‘I am not defending him by any means – but do you remember the incident with Tito Vilanova?

‘That was malevolent, nasty and sly. This was just a bit of playground stuff.’

King was referring to an incident from the El Clasico in 2012, where Mourinho appeared to poke a member of Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona coaching staff in the eye on the touchline.

To hear Ian Ladyman and Dominic King’s full opinions on Mourinho’s career, listen to ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ now, wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Jose Mourinho is ‘growing old disgracefully’ and won’t be remembered as ‘a truly great coach’, IAN LADYMAN tells DOMINIC KING after ‘nose pinching’ debacle

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