José Mourinho’s all-time greatest XI

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Ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend, we have a look at the greatest ever players to run out for a Mourinho side…

The Manchester derby on Saturday sees two of football’s most decorated managers, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, go head-to-head.

Mourinho has managed some of the greatest teams in recent history, and some of the most talented individuals to play the game over the last decade or so.

Here is a look at the greatest XI to play under the Portuguese boss.

Petr Čech (Goalkeeper – Chelsea)

Bought by Claudio Ranieri just months before Mourinho took the helm, Petr Čech was a stalwart in Mourinho’s first stint in charge of Chelsea, and his departure to Arsenal in 2015, against the will of the Chelsea manager, has been seen by many as the start of the manger’s infamous decline after returning to the club a year earlier.

Čech won everything with Chelsea, earning himself four Premier League Golden Gloves in the process.

Javier Zanetti (Right-back – Internazionale)

Zanetti is one of the most iconic figures of the past decade and, in fact, the decade preceding it. Whilst not technically a one-club man due to his early days in Argentinian football, Zanetti’s association with Internazionale would span 18 years, leading him to represent the club 858 times in all, a club record.

His tireless work ethic and tactical awareness saw him swiftly considered as one of the best right-backs in the world. All Mourinho teams are littered with leaders, and in Zanetti, this XI has one of the best.

John Terry (Centre-back and captain – Chelsea)

Talking of leaders, we move on to the Mourinho all-time XI captain, John Terry. Whilst his personality divides those off the pitch, his standing on it has rarely come in to question. A true leader on the pitch, and a player willing to give his all to the cause, Terry has won it all with Chelsea.

His organisation, reading of the game and aerial ability has led him to be regarded as one of the greatest centre-backs in the Premier League. Now 35, it is a testament to Terry’s ability that he still commands are starting berth in one of the Premier League’s strongest sides.

Ricardo Carvalho (Centre-back – Porto and Chelsea)

Jose Mourinho managed some quality centre-back’s such as Lucio and Sergio Ramos at Inter Milan and Real Madrid respectably, but it’s an all-Chelsea affair at centre-back in this team. In their prime, Carvalho and Terry were a tremendous duo and formed the rock that Mourinho’s Blues side was built on. Jose brought the Euro 2016 winner to the Bridge having managed him at Porto, and was quickly justified in doing so, with Carvalho establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Ashley Cole (Left-back – Chelsea)

One of the greatest left-backs in the modern era, like Terry, his antics off the field have divided opinion, but on it he established himself as one of the most complete full-backs the world has ever seen.

A part of the illustrious Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ team, Cole went on to win it all with Chelsea alongside Terry and will rightly be remembered as one of the Premier League’s best defenders.

Claude Makélélé (Defensive Midfield – Chelsea)

So good that he’s had a position named after him, like teammate Cech, Mourinho inherited Makélélé from his Italian predecessor. Makélélé became integral to Mourinho’s tactical approach to the game, and provided the freedom for the attacking players ahead of him to flourish.

Whilst Mourinho has been accused of being a defensive manager, during his first stint at Chelsea this was certainly not the case, and this was in no small part down to the presence of Makélélé in front of the back four allowing other midfielders to attack freely.

Frank Lampard (Central Midfield – Chelsea)

One of the Premier League’s most decorated midfielders, Frank Lampard has become synonymous with his goalscoring ability, sitting above Thierry Henry in the all-time Premier League goalscorers list with an enviable 177 league goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Left wing – Real Madrid)

Arguably the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goalscoring ability is scary. Whilst he is perhaps not the team player that his Barcelona counter-part Lionel Messi is, Ronaldo is in every sense a superstar.

Scoring more goals than he has played games for Real Madrid, Mourinho’s all-time XI is littered with midfield goals, and you would expect Ronaldo to be the star turn in a team filled with talent.

Arjen Robben (Right wing – Chelsea)

Perhaps a fortunate inclusion ahead of Eden Hazard in the list, Arjen Robben’s true ability hasn’t come to light until much after his association with Mourinho. But with a fractured relationship between Hazard and Mourinho surfacing prior to the Portuguese coach departing Stamford Bridge, Robben gets the nod.

With nine League titles to his name, two coming under Mourinho, and a Champions League winners’ medal, Robben has proved himself a thorn in the side of almost every side he has ever played against. His electric pace, and willingness to take on opponents has propelled him to the very top of European and world football.

Didier Drogba (Centre-forward – Chelsea)

There is nothing that better epitomises Mourinho’s tenure at Chelsea, and Chelsea’s rise to prominence, than Didier Drogba. With a knack for scoring goals in big finals, it is impossible to leave the Ivorian out of the all-time Mourinho XI.

Winning two Premier League titles in Mourinho’s first spell, the Chelsea legend would return on loan in the 2014-15 season, helping Mourinho to a third league title with Chelsea.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Centre Forward – Internazionale/Manchester United)

Ibrahimovic has won trophies no matter where he’s gone, and this is far from coincidence. Ibrahimovic has won a staggering 11 League titles, rising to 13 if you include the Serie A victories with Juventus that were late revoked amidst match-fixing allegations.

Even at the age of 34, Zlatan quickly came to grips with the Premier League, silencing critics who claimed he couldn’t cut it in England. With Drogba alongside him in our Mourinho all-time XI, the aerial presence of this side would strike fear into the hearts of even the most willing centre-backs.