Mou's Bernabéu Return in Tatters: The Special One's History of Missing Reunions
José Mourinho's red card against Real Madrid continues a pattern of missing returns to former clubs - a trend particularly evident during his Roma days.
Mourinho’s expulsion against Real Madrid means he’ll miss his Santiago Bernabéu homecoming, continuing a curious pattern of absences when returning to former stomping grounds.
The Bernabéu Ban
José Mourinho won’t grace the touchline at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday when his Benfica side attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their Champions League knockout clash with Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager saw red in the first leg after protesting for a second yellow card for Vinícius Júnior, earning himself two yellows in quick succession.
This means the Special One will miss what would have been a poignant return to the club he managed from 2010 to 2013. Absolute nightmare for him, that.
Pattern of Absence
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Mourinho has been absent for a return to a former employer. During his Roma tenure, he developed quite the knack for missing trips to the San Siro (Giuseppe Meazza Stadium) where he’d previously led Inter Milan to glory:
- Missed 4 total San Siro matches due to suspensions
- Absent for 2 of 3 visits against AC Milan
- Missed 2 of 4 matches against his former club Inter
- These absences came consecutively - his last visit to San Siro as Roma boss was April 2022, despite remaining in charge until January 2024
Perhaps most telling is Roma’s improved fortunes without their manager present. With Mourinho on the touchline, Roma lost all three San Siro visits, but only lost twice in the four matches he missed. Make of that what you will.
”I’m Not Doing It On Purpose!”
When questioned about his repeated absences from San Siro, Mourinho didn’t hold back, calling anyone who suggested he deliberately avoided returns “idiots” and insisting these were mere coincidences.
One particularly memorable episode saw Mourinho watching a match from the team bus parked just meters from the stadium on October 1, 2022.
The Laundry Basket Incident
With Mourinho banned from the Bernabéu touchline and dressing room, speculation has naturally turned to whether he might attempt another famous circumvention like his 2005 stunt. Back then, while serving a touchline ban at Chelsea, Mourinho reportedly snuck into the dressing room hidden in a laundry basket to deliver team talks - a tale he later confirmed.
For the upcoming match, UEFA regulations mean he’ll likely watch from the stands, a nearby area of the stadium, or potentially from a hotel. He’s also exempt from pre and post-match press conferences - which Mourinho admitted is “the only positive” of his current predicament.
One of his assistants will take charge of the Eagles from the bench as they attempt to overturn the first-leg deficit and reach the Champions League Round of 16.