Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been hailed as a “legend” after the message he sent to one former Premier League striker after a match.
Jose Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 and replaced Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager after the Dutchman was axed from the club.
The 61-year-old Portuguese manager saw success in his debut season at Old Trafford, with Mourinho leading United to the Europa League and the League Cup.
Following on from the silverware success in the 2016-17 season, Mourinho led United to second place in the Premier League table in the subsequent campaign.
However, the ‘Special One’ also missed out on the FA Cup in 2017 after United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Mourinho’s former side Chelsea at Wembley.
Mourinho’s spell at Old Trafford unravelled in the 2018-19 season and the former United boss was axed from the Red Devils in December 2018.
The ex-Real Madrid and Inter Milan head coach went on to manage Tottenham and Roma before taking up his current post at Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Mourinho’s encounter after Man Utd defeat
Speaking on talkSPORT, former Premier League striker Troy Deeney recalled his encounter with Jose Mourinho after a Manchester United match.
Troy Deeney scored from the spot-kick in injury time for Watford in a 3-1 victory at Vicarage Road over Mourinho’s United side in 2016.
The 36-year-old former Watford captain recalled how he waited for Mourinho after spotting him on the phone during his “first encounter” with the “legend.”
Mourinho showed true class by praising Deeney for his performance and wished him the best of luck, despite United suffering defeat at the hands of Watford.
“He’s [Mourinho] a legend,” Deeney said.
“Because he’s straight-talking as well, whenever I’ve encountered him. My first encounter with Jose, we beat Man United at Vicarage Road. 3-1, we beat them. And I scored.
“I remember I went up to the family bit, I had some friends there and said hello.
“Then I was coming back down the stairs to go across to my family in my box. He was on the phone on the stairs, and I just stood waiting.
“I was like, ‘Oh, cool.’ Then we just laughed and joked, but he told me, you played well, good luck for the future. And I said the same.
“That was when United had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney up front. It was proper.
“With Marcus [Rashford] on the left, [Marouane] Fellaini and [Paul] Pogba in the middle. It was a proper outfit.”
Mourinho’s love for Man Utd
Despite his run at Old Trafford coming to an end with his sacking, Mourinho insisted that he still holds a special connection with United fans.
“I loved it, I loved my time there,” he told Rio Ferdinand on the United legend’s YouTube channel.
“I was so proud of going there. I was even prouder when a couple of years later I went back as a Sky commentator with Roy Keane and felt the reaction of the crowd. I was like, ‘Wow.’
“I always felt like we were together in the time I was there, but to have that reaction touched me. I loved my time there.
“The club, the history, everything, to be a coach in the same club as Sir Alex [Ferguson], you have to feel it, you have to feel the pride and responsibility and I felt it.”
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