May 21 – Mourinho’s Porto Beat Celtic

JOSE Mourinho seems like such a big figure in the football universe that it seems hard to remember a time when he wasn’t there, dishing out his pearls of wisdom like a cool, modern-day version of Brian Clough.

But it was today in 2003, just six years ago, that the Portuguezzer pricked the collective consciousness of British football fans for the first time when his Porto team took on Martin O’Neill’s Celtic in the Uefa Cup Final in Seville.

The Bhoys were hoping for a triumph to add to the famous 1967 European Cup win and 80,000 of their fans descended on Seville for the game.

But standing in their way was Mourinho and his team who took the lead just before half time thanks to Derlei. Henrick Larsson equalised soon after, and had to do so again on 56 minutes after Dmitri Alenitchev had put Porto ahead again just two minutes earlier.

The match went to extra time and with just five minutes before penalties, Derlei scored the winner to break Celtic hearts.

Martin O’Neill was unhappy at some of Porto’s tactics. “I will probably get into trouble for this, but it was poor sportsmanship,” he said. “The rolling over, the time wasting. But they have beaten us, well done to them and it’s up to us to learn from this.

“It is a steep learning curve, but this was a wonderful, wonderful experience. The players put everything into it and the fans have been fantastic.”

Predictably, Mourinho begged to differ with O’Neill. “I’d prefer to ask whether the behaviour of the Celtic players was normal in your country,” he said. “What Balde did to Deco in front of me could have ended his career. The referee didn’t affect the result, in that there were no doubtful decisions, but I think Balde could have had a direct red for his foul and Thompson could also have seen a second yellow card on two occasions.

“There was a lot of commitment in Celtic’s game, commitment, toughness and aggression. I’m tempted to use another word – but I won’t.”

“We have given a great example to the world and those who love football and we have also made history by taking the Uefa Cup to Portugal for the first time ever,” he added.

The following season Mourinho led Porto to the European Cup, making more history in the process and paving the way for his move to Chelsea.

As usual, we’ll have more historical football high jinx tomorrow, but until then, click here to read about the best world cup song ever made.