Fenerbahce head coach José Mourinho has revealed that Lionel Messi is the player who has most influenced his development as a manager.
Messi, often hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has had numerous encounters with Mourinho throughout their respective careers.
The legendary forward made his senior debut for Barcelona in a friendly against Mourinho’s Porto side back in November 2003.
Over the years, Mourinho faced Messi on multiple high-profile occasions—most notably during his tenure at Real Madrid in LaLiga, as well as during memorable UEFA Champions League clashes while managing Chelsea and Inter Milan.
Speaking to Sporty Net, Mourinho was asked which player had contributed most to his personal growth in football. He responded:
“Messi, because every time I played against him he forced me to think a lot.”
