Jose Mourinho managed five players who won the Ballon d'Or during their careers, but he thinks an old rival should have claimed the award before hanging up their boots. The iconic Portuguese coach has travelled Europe during his managerial career and worked with some of the best to grace the sport.
Andriy Shevchenko, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema have won the award while also playing under Mourinho at some point. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss has similarly achieved individual success during his time in the dugout, winning FIFA's World's Best Coach on five occasions.
The 62-year-old's time with Madrid was full of drama, mainly due to Los Blancos' rivalry with Barcelona, where he previously worked as an assistant to Louis van Gaal and Sir Bobby Robson. From 2010 to 2013, he faced several familiar faces in El Clasico battles, including one player he felt deserved to win the Ballon d'Or.
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Mourinho: Barcelona Icon "Deserved" Ballon d'Or
"One of the world's best players"
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho failed to win the UEFA Champions League during his three-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu. After guiding Inter Milan to glory, he arrived in the Spanish capital as a European champion, beating Barcelona en route.
Barca were at their scintillating best at the time, thriving under Pep Guardiola, who went to war with Mourinho in El Clasico. The Spaniard was helped out by a star-studded team boasting the likes of Ballon d'Or royalty, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.
Another of the Catalans' tiki-taka gems was Xavi, the heartbeat of Guardiola's midfield. He possessed incredible vision, remarkable passing range, and a constant eye for goal. He helped the Catalans win the Champions League four times and La Liga eight times.
Xavi came close to winning the Ballon d'Or in 2009, 2010 and 2011 but finished third on each occasion. Mourinho, who knew him well from his time at Camp Nou, thought the 2010 World Cup winner should have had at least one first-place finish on the podium.
He said in 2015 (via The Mirror):
"I’m completely honest to say that Xavi is one of the world’s best players over the past decade and he deserves to win what he will never have – a Ballon d’Or success."
Mourinho's comments came after Xavi announced he would leave Barca at the end of the 2014-15 season, ending a 17-year senior spell in Catalonia. He earned club legend status during that time and helped the Blaugrana dominate European football.
The legendary Terrassa-born playmaker's biggest achievement was winning two continental trebles with the La Liga giants. The first arrived under Guardiola in the 2008-09 season before he bid farewell to his boyhood club by achieving the same feat under Luis Enrique.
Xavi's Career
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Xavi: I Disagree With Mourinho's PhilosophyThe Spaniard delved into their relationship
Xavi
Mourinho's time at Camp Nou played a significant role in his growth as a manager. As a member of Van Gaal and Robson's backroom teams, he learned what it takes to succeed in the dugout. He initially started as a translator before moving into an assistant role.
Xavi was at the very start of his career when the Portuguese took his first steps towards senior management. The pair held a strong connection because they shared the same vision of football that is embedded in Barca's DNA.
This changed for Mourinho once his managerial career took off, implementing a more defensive brand of football that contrasted with the Catalans' possession-based setup. Xavi made clear his feelings on this later that year (via ESPN):
"I disagree with [Mourinho's] philosophy, to win at all costs, but I respect him a lot. He helped me in the three years he was with us. Then we spoke the same language, we believed in the same things. He came to Barca B to train us, and we worked in Barca's philosophy."
Mourinho and Bobby Robson
Xavi may have taken inspiration from Mourinho when he became a manager after retiring in 2019 at Qatari outfit Al-Sadd. He took charge of the Doha side before returning to Barca, where he spent a topsy-turvy spell. He guided the Spanish giants to the La Liga title in 2023 but ended the following season trophyless and parted ways.
All statistics courtesy ofTransfermarkt- correct as of 10.05.2025.
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