Every manager makes mistakes – yes, even Manchester United gaffer Jose Mourinho.
Few doubt his world-record £89million spend on midfielder Paul Pogba as a worthwhile investment, although some remain bemused by his deep-lying role in the Red Devils’ starting XI, but not every signing made by the Portuguese in recent years has been quite so inspiring.
Indeed, since turning up at FC Porto in 2002, the Special One has spent almost exactly £1billion on new signings, throughout spells with the Dragons, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United, and whilst some have gone on to title-winning greatness, others have left much to be desired
With that in mind, Football FanCast have taken a look at five of Mourinho’s most bemusing, puzzling and unsuccessful acquisitions prior to his summer activity at Old Trafford.
So here’s FIVE signings from down the years Mourinho got hopelessly wrong – we’re still awaiting an explanation!
Emmanuel Adebayor – Real Madrid
Whilst Emmanuel Adebayor wasn’t a horrendous signing for Madrid, some questioned how ambitious Mourinho was being when he brought the then-Manchester City man to the Bernabeu.
On 25 January 2011, Adebayor signed a loan deal to play for Real Madrid for the rest of the season, scoring four times in 15 league appearances. Like we said, by no means was he a complete flop but could they have done better at time time?
A bit of a head scratcher.
Tal Ben Haim- Chelsea
Okay, now we’re getting onto the bad players Jose signed during his tenure at Chelsea and this one really is up there.
Tal Ben Haim unexpectedly joined the Blues on a bosman in the summer of 2007 in an incredibly strange transfer deal. Mourinho was looking for someone versatile to give depth in his Chelsea squad but as we all went on to see, Ben Haim was never good enough to hold down a place at Stamford Bridge.
Now 34 and playing back in his native Israel, this is a signing plenty will forget.
Michael Essien – Real Madrid
Michael Essien was a player who was truly fantastic when he worked with Mourinho at Chelsea and in fact it was the Portuguese manager who brought him to Stamford Bridge in the first place.
But during a season-long loan spell with Real Madrid, he just wasn’t the same player and in honesty, hasn’t been since. He failed to recapture that form at the Bernabeu and he left some supporters feeling a little dejected after so much was expected.
Quite simply a player who didn’t live up to his own standards. Now 33, he’s a free agent.
Shaun Wright Phillips- Chelsea
Chelsea spent an absurd £21million on Shaun Wright-Phillips back in 2005 and he proved to be one of the worst signings Jose Mourinho has made throughout his managerial career.
It was pretty clear from the off that the Englishman wasn’t going to be good enough in a side looking to win the league and form issues meant he missed out on a place in the 2006 World Cup team.
He returned to Manchester City and didn’t really fair much better. Now plays in the MLS.
Andriy Shevchenko – Chelsea
Arguably Jose Mourinho’s worst ever buy is Andriy Shevchenko, who cost the Blues boss over £30million back in the summer of 2005. Back then, this was eye-watering cash but who cared – Chelsea were bringing arguably the best striker of his generation to the Bridge, right?
Well, not really. The forward struggled for form, goals and even chances during his time at Chelsea. 22 goals in just over 75 appearances just wasn’t good enough for a player who many thought would go on to set the Premier League alight.
