Eddie Howe highlighted his pride at the chance to go up against one of the game’s great managers.
Jose Mourinho made a massive impact in English football, winning the first Premier League titles for **Chelsea**in 2005 and 2006 before returning to take the crown for a third time with the Blues in 2015. Across two stints, he took the team to the semi-final of the Champions League three times.
He then moved to **Man United**in the summer of 2016, winning the Carabao Cup and **Europa League**in his first campaign with the club to complete the continental set with the Red Devils. The rest of his time in the North-West, and a subsequent spell with Tottenham, saw the trophies run dry, but the charisma and coaching of the Portuguese have left a legacy that has impacted so many.
Howe is among the men to have taken a lot of the journey of Mourinho. He had guided **Bournemouth**to the top tier of English football in 2015, facing the legend when he was in his second stint at **Chelsea**and then at Man United. It will be down to business for both men when the action kicks off on Tuesday at St. James’ Park, but the Englishman expressed great respect for his adversary.
“He's someone that I hugely admire, having come up against him before in the Premier League and I think as a younger coach really admired the teams that he built at Chelsea in particular.
“I thought he is definitely a visionary, someone that broke the mould really in terms of how you manage and different ways to do things and then following his success through different clubs, different leagues, incredible really what he what he's achieved in his career.
“It's always a great opportunity for any club to go up against his teams and looking forward to the challenge immensely.”