Jose Mourinho made an unexpected choice when asked to identify the ‘greatest’ Premier League manager based on their achievements.
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The ex-manager of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur was prompted by The Obi One Podcast to choose between..Continue Reading
However, he refused to commit to either, instead highlighting the top accomplishment by another Premier League legend.
“Fergie or Pep? Oh, impossible to compare,” said the two-time Champions League winner.
“Impossible to compare generations. Impossible to compare the potential to do things. But both of them are historical in the Premier League.”
“But I would still say for me, the historical one in the Premier League is [Claudio] Ranieri,” he continued.
“Because to win with Leicester is something unique. To win four, five, six titles with Man Utd in that generation is great, but… to win five, six or seven titles in this generation with City is great, but…
“With Leicester, there is no buts. To me, it’s the most incredible title that I lived close by.”
Claudio Ranieri preceded Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager, steering the Blues during a crucial period from 2000 to 2004.
After coaching in Spain, Italy, and France, Ranieri served as Greece’s national team manager before being appointed as Nigel Pearson’s successor at Leicester City.
Following Pearson’s remarkable relegation escape, Ranieri led the Foxes to their first and only Premier League title in the 2015/16 season.
Leicester won the league with a 10-point cushion over Arsenal in second place. Meanwhile, Chelsea fell short of expectations during Leicester’s historic title-winning season, leading to Mourinho’s dismissal from his second stint at Stamford Bridge in December 2015.
Ranieri was dismissed by Leicester in February 2017 with his championship-winning team hovering near the relegation zone and was replaced by the late Craig Shakespeare.
The 73-year-old later managed Fulham, Watford, Nantes, and Sampdoria before returning for a third spell at Roma.
Ranieri is still at the helm at the Stadio Olimpico, becoming the fourth manager of 2024 for the Giallorossi. Mourinho was the first before being succeeded by Daniele De Rossi.
