Is Jose Mourinho worthy of AmEx? Excuse us while we indulge our European soccer fandom. We find it curious timing that Jose Mourinho joins American Express’ “My life. My card” campaign tonight with a TV spot in the U.K. during a match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich (thanks for the correction, Casper). Mourinho, Chelsea’s Portuguese coach, won’t be at the game—he was suspended after accusing Barcelona’s coach and a Swedish referee of cheating after a match between those clubs. (The ref even received death threats following Mourinho’s comments and promptly retired.) Mourinho has had other troubles, too—he was fined for saying Manchester United players cheat; he was booted from the dugout for making provocative gestures at Liverpool fans; and he’s under investigation for an alleged illegal move to poach a player from Arsenal. Maybe all this confirms his “will to win attitude,” as AmEx puts it. Or maybe it just means he’s not above creating a poisonous atmosphere if it gives his team the upper hand. —Posted by Tim Nudd

April 6, 2005 | Permalink

Comments

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I thought it was weird enough that they had Coach K in all those commercials during the Final Four, when Duke didn't make it that far. This one ups those, though.

Posted by: Bruno | Apr 7, 2005 9:57:54 AM

Just a correction from a european soccer geek. The match yesterday that Mourinho missed was between Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Posted by: Casper | Apr 7, 2005 11:19:26 AM

"Who better to control its emotions, bigger possibilities will have to be successful".
It knows what he says and he makes.

Posted by: Agostinho Sousa | Apr 23, 2005 8:28:03 PM

Just a correction. Jose Mourinho did not acuse the Barcelona Coach and Swedish referee of cheating. He acused the Barcelona coach of talking with the referee, during the match interval, in a zone of exclusive use of the referee and prohibited to any one else. The referee mentioned that on its report, that became public after the punishment applied to the Chelsea coach. What I believe should be reproved was the UEFA attitude by claiming that Mourinho lied when it did not. Also UEFA would have done a better job protecting the referee by publishing (officialy or non officially) the report. After all the referee had the correct attitude by mentioning the inappropriate (to say the less) behaviour of Barcelona coach. Also the Barcelona coach had no caracter when called liar to Mourinho, after all he did in fact talk with the referee.

Posted by: JMS | Apr 27, 2005 9:42:13 AM

AMEX choosing to hire Mourinho is probably one of the greatest moves ever. The company is lucky to having such a "winning" polarizing figure be it's sponsor.

Posted by: Amith | Apr 28, 2005 8:34:07 AM

JMS. He was accused of lying because he did not actually see the incident. He later claimed members of his deligation say it and reported it to him. I'm not sure which one I believe but I do not believe Barca coach "entered" the locker room of the ref. He may have spoken to the ref in the tunnel but not in his locker room.

Posted by: Webdoc90 | May 16, 2005 11:57:21 AM

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