This is Mourinho’s third club in the English Premier League having previously been at Chelsea and Manchester United where he was sacked twelve months ago. “I am excited to be joining a Club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters,” Mourinho told the Spurs website.


‘The Special One’ got off to a perfect start with Spurs gaining their first away win in ten months. Former Algarve schoolboy Eric Dier, a fringe player under Pochettino, was in the starting line-up against West Ham and could now play a crucial role in Mourinho’s plans. Mourinho drew his coaching staff’s attention to the fact that 20-year-old defender Japhet Tanganga marked Cristiano Ronaldo in a pre-season match in the Far East earlier this summer, when Spurs beat Juventus 3-2. Tanganga showed his credentials when going up against Ronaldo in the International Champions Cup clash, where he held his own.


It shows that Mourinho has been keeping a close eye on Spurs, before taking over. Wolverhampton Wanderers are another English team with a Portuguese manager who are attracting much attention. Former Valencia and FC Porto manager Nuno Espirito Santos has worked wonders at the Midlands club who are currently fifth in the Premier League and still in the Europa League a point behind SC Braga who they play at the Quarry next Thursday.


Portimão born Wolves midfielder João Moutinho scored a wonderful free-kick in the 2-1 win at Bournemouth last weekend, after which the Portugal international signed a new contract at Molineux.


Further afield, former Benfica and Sporting manager, Jorge Jesus’ led Flamengo (Brazil) to a sensational late comeback to win the South American Copa Libertadores; the highest level of competition in South American club football. Flamengo, for the first time in thirty-eight years, lifted the trophy after a dramatic 2-1 victory over River Plate (Argerntina) in Lima (Peru). Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa struck twice in the last two minutes to turn defeat into victory and crown the Rio de Janeiro side champions of the continent. This result ensures that Jesus has acquired cult idol status at the club just five months after arriving in Brazil.