Jose Mourinho has been handed a place on the shortlist with 11 other managers for the 2017 FIFA men’s coach award after claiming three pieces of silverware during his first season as Manchester United manager.
The Portuguese begun his time at Old Trafford by claiming the Community Shield – an ultimately pointless trophy but a trophy nonetheless – following a 2-1 win over Leicester City at Wembley. They made a slow start in the Premier League, slumping to sixth following a barren spell between September and December, but reminded the watching world of their trophy-winning credentials by beating Southampton 3-2 in the League Cup final.
Mourinho saved the biggest achievement until last, however, carefully guiding his injury blighted side through a series of testing Premier League games and to the Europa League final – their 64th game of a mentally and physically exhausting campaign. But despite their fatigue and the threat Ajax posed with their youthful pace, Mourinho masterminded a commanding 2-0 win in Stockholm, handing United their fifth European trophy and cementing his side’s place in the Champions League group stages.
And the 54-year-old, who won the honour in 2010 after guiding Inter Milan to an historic treble, has been named alongside the following managers for the prestigious award: Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola, Leonardo Jardim, Joachim Low, Maurico Pochettino, Diego Simeone, Tite, Zinedine Zidane.
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[…] League football back to Old Trafford before and may do so again this season. The Red Devils won Europe’s secondary club continental competition in 2017 under Jose Mourinho and are competing in it again this […]