ON THIS DAY

In 1919, on January 26th, a Yorkshireman, Bill Nicholson was born. 

Hopefully you know who he was?...At 16 years old he arrived at Tottenham Hotspur and save for a break due to World War Two, he served at the North London club as a player, coach and manager for nearly 40 years. Looking at the club's history, he oversaw a number of wins in tournaments, with the best being the 1960-1 Double, winning First Division title (then the top one) and the FA Cup, famously beating Leicester City at Wembley; this was the first Double of the 20th Century. Two seasons later he led Spurs to win the European Cup Winners Cup, making Spurs the first British Club to win a European trophy.

On the same day and year...Jose Mourinho was born in Portugal and he eventually became Sir Bobby Robson's translator at Barcelona before making his owwn success at POrto,winning the European Cup. Jose went on to Chelsea, delivering their first league title for 50 years, but failed to make a mark inm Europea with the London club.

Dubbed "The Special One" by the British media, Mourinho is one of the most decorated managers ever and is widely considered to be among the greatest managers of all time.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1980–1982	Rio Ave	0	(0)
1982–1983	Belenenses	0	(0)
1983–1985	Sesimbra	35	(1)
1985–1987	Comércio e Indústria	27	(8)
Total		94	(13)
Managerial career
2000	Benfica
2001–2002	União de Leiria
2002–2004	Porto
2004–2007	Chelsea
2008–2010	Inter Milan
2010–2013	Real Madrid
2013–2015	Chelsea
2016–2018	Manchester United
2019–2021	Tottenham Hotspur
2021–2024	Roma
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mourinho was born in 1963 to a large middle-class family in Setubal (a city in the Lison area), the son of José Manuel Mourinho Félix and his wife, Maria Júlia Carrajola dos Santos. His father played football professionally for Belenenses and Vitoria du Setubal, earning one cap for his country, in the course of his career. His mother was a primary school teacher from an affluent background; her uncle funded the construction of the Vitória de Setúbal football stadium. If youare interested in Jose next "history", look him up-it does of course include Bobby Robson and eventually Jose's venture in England!

Jose with Roma in 2023. his latest club.