According to “Goal”, Didier Drogba tops the list of Mourinho’s most prominent deals, after Chelsea included him from Marseille in 2004 for 24 million pounds sterling. The Ivorian striker was not just a scorer, but rather became one of the club’s symbols. He scored 164 goals for Chelsea, and was a hero in the 2012 Champions League final by scoring the equalizer and then the decisive penalty kick.
Ashley Cole is among Mourinho’s most important choices, after his exciting move from Arsenal to Chelsea in 2006 in a deal that included William Gallas and 5 million pounds. Cole played more than 300 games with Chelsea, and became one of the best left-backs in the history of the English Premier League.
Among Inter Milan’s crucial deals, Samuel Eto’o stands out, who arrived from Barcelona in 2009 in a huge exchange deal that included Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Eto’o was not only a scorer, but a team player who helped Mourinho build his historic team that won the treble in 2010.
As for Diego Milito, who came from Genoa to Inter, it was the deal that made the decision. He scored two goals in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, and led the team to a historic hat-trick, after transforming from a striker not ranked among the first-class stars to the champion of the European season.
In his second experience with Chelsea, Mourinho chose Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid, and he was one of the keys to returning to the English Premier League title. Costa scored 20 goals in his first season, giving the team the strength and intensity it lacked in the forward line.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in turn, was one of Mourinho’s most prominent deals, after he arrived to Manchester United for free from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016. Although many considered the deal late due to his age, Zlatan responded with 28 goals in all competitions, and contributed to winning the League Cup and the European League.
The list also includes names that made important stages in Mourinho’s career, such as Wesley Sneijder, who moved from Real Madrid to Inter and was a key element in the 2010 treble, Benny McCarthy, who helped Porto on the path to European glory, and Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira, who accompanied the Portuguese coach from Porto to Chelsea.
The list shows that Mourinho’s strength in the market has not always been in buying the biggest names, but rather in choosing the right player for the right job. Some of his deals were cheap, and some sparked controversy, but many of them turned into pillars in teams that won championships.
