Arsenal
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2Fraphinha-2-693dbddda1b15970105023.jpg?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Raphinha scores brace for Blaugrana")
These on the prime at Barcelona initially wished somebody with membership connections to be Sir Bobby’s assistant, however he insisted it needed to be Mourinho.
For good purpose.
Sir Bobby was strolling right into a divided membership following the departure of legendary supervisor Johan Cruyff and wanted somebody he trusted implicitly, who may assist get his message throughout in one other international language.
By this stage, Mourinho’s function had lengthy since developed.
He helped out on the coaching floor. He produced scouting dossiers on the opposition that Sir Bobby rated as one of the best he had ever seen. Crucially, he was used to coping with worldwide gamers.
In a testing setting, the pair complemented one another as soon as once more as midfielder Guillermo Amor defined.
“They managed to create a very good ambiance and make a really sturdy crew,” he stated.
“Jose had extra contact with the gamers on account of his fluency within the language and his age, which was similar to ours.
“He had nice respect for Bobby and Bobby had nice religion in all the things Jose may do on the sector and within the locker room.”
Sir Bobby went on to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Cup in what proved to be his remaining season with Mourinho earlier than the Barcelona supervisor was moved upstairs to the place of basic supervisor and changed by Louis van Gaal.
Mourinho advised Sir Bobby he wished to go away out of loyalty however his mentor satisfied him to remain, having already briefed van Gaal concerning the deserves of retaining his assistant.
Had Mourinho not spent three additional three years on the Nou Camp underneath van Gaal, the Portuguese may nicely have adopted Sir Bobby to Newcastle in 1999.
As an alternative he went it alone – however Sir Bobby’s affect lives on.
To at the present time, Mourinho cherishes these moments the pair’s households shared in Sitges, the meals Sir Bobby by no means let him pay for and the teachings he taught him about life.
It’s why the 62-year-old considers himself a “little Magpie”.
“The membership up there understand how a lot love and respect I’ve for them,” he advised CBS earlier this month. “I realized that love from Mr Robson.”
