Jose Mourinho admits he never relished visiting St James’ Park during his tenure at Premier League clubs, considering Newcastle a troublesome opponent.
Over the past two decades, the 61-year-old managed Chelsea twice and had stints at Manchester United and Tottenham.
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Now, without a job after departing Roma, a return to the Premier League might not be out of the question for the Special One.
The Portuguese manager was famed for his rivalries with other coaches, particularly Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson, but he emphasizes that his conflicts were more with clubs than individuals.
Mourinho recalls fondly his encounters with Arsenal during his Chelsea tenure due to his impressive track record against them, yet he dreaded matches against Newcastle due to the opposite outcome.
‘Not with the managers, with the clubs yes,’ Mourinho told FIVE on his Premier League rivalries.
‘When people speak about me and Wenger, we had our things on the touchline, in words. But what I enjoyed the most was beating Arsenal every time we played against them, because it was every time Chelsea, boom, boom, boom. That was what I enjoyed.
‘I didn’t enjoy to play in Newcastle because I never win. Every time I went to Newcastle it was lose or draw, lose or draw. I think I won there once probably with Chelsea, with Man United or Tottenham. Out of 10 I would win once or twice,
‘There was no rivalry with [Alan] Pardew or with [Sam] Allardyce or anyone there, I just knew that going to play St James’ was really, really hard.’
Mourinho has been rumored for a potential third term at Chelsea, especially with current manager Mauricio Pochettino facing scrutiny at Stamford Bridge.
Additionally, there have been whispers about a comeback to Manchester United, though he dismissed them as untrue, albeit reminiscing about his time at Old Trafford with fondness.
‘I loved it, I loved my time there. I was so proud of going there,’ Mourinho said of his stint with the Red Devils.
‘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, you have to feel it, you have to feel the pride and responsibility and I felt it.
‘It was a hell of a job you know, in the first season to win the Europa League was great, to qualify for the Champions League was great too.’
