Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho, has revealed that Lionel Messi is the player who helped him grow the most throughout his career as a coach.
Messi, often hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time, first crossed paths with Mourinho in November 2003 when he made his first-team debut for Barcelona in a friendly against Mourinho’s Porto.
Over the years, the two would meet on several occasions, with Mourinho facing Messi in LaLiga during his spell at Real Madrid, as well as in unforgettable Champions League clashes while managing Chelsea and Inter Milan.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty Net, Mourinho admitted that competing against Messi constantly pushed him to evolve as a tactician.
“Messi, because every time I played against him he forced me to think a lot,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese coach, known for his sharp tactical mind, acknowledged that trying to stop Messi during his peak years made him work harder, adapt more, and ultimately grow as one of football’s top managers.
