The world of football is like a magnificent stage, and the coaches are like conductors, trying to play a magnificent music through recruitment. However, even a world-class coach like Jose Mourinho will inevitably suffer setbacks on the way to recruitment. Today, let's uncover the story behind 5 of the worst signings of Jose Mourinho's coaching career.
1. Coentrão. The high price of £27 million was expected to bring a superstar at the back, but Coentrão lost himself at Real Madrid. The brutality of competition caused him to gradually lose his position, go on loan, move from team to team, and finally retire. This is not only a failure of recruitment, but also a huge waste of the team's resources.
2. Abdul Baba. The Ghanaian left-back, who cost Chelsea £22 million, has been a nightmare in his Chelsea career. With just 23 appearances and the majority of his time spent on loan, from Schalke to Reims, Mallorca to Reading, he was a wandering player who never found his place. In 2023, Chelsea finally removed him from the squad squad, declaring the signing a complete failure.
3. Shacin. This name may make many fans feel sorry. He joined Real Madrid for £9 million but failed to shine at the Bernabeu. After a disappointing performance at Real Madrid, he failed to impress at Liverpool and eventually had to return to the Bundesliga. This is a miscalculation of potential and a regret in Mourinho's career.
4. Ricardo Quaresma. The Portuguese winger's talent was expected. However, after his £22.1 million move to Inter Milan, his performances were disappointing. After scoring just one goal in 32 games, he was unable to regain his form after a loan spell at Chelsea, which resulted in a move to Besiktas. It's an over-expectation of talent, and it's also a relentless blow to dreams from reality.
5. Shevchenko. The Ukrainian striker's glory at AC Milan goes without saying, but after his £30 million move to Chelsea, he seemed to have lost his magic. After scoring just 22 goals in 77 games, he eventually moved to Dynamo Kyiv after returning to AC Milan on loan. This is an underestimation of a player's ability to adapt and the most criticized of Mourinho's career.
However, we can't just judge heroes by their successes or failures. The world of signings is full of uncertainty, and every decision is a gamble. The failure of these signings may make Mourinho reflect more deeply on his decision-making process, and also let us see the cruelty and reality of the football world.
In the world of football, there are no permanent winners, only explorers who keep moving forward. Mourinho's five failed signings have also become a unique memory in football history. Let's hope that he can learn from his lessons and create brilliance again in his future coaching career.