"Nothing has changed" - Jose Mourinho doubles down on retirement plan

Roma boss Jose Mourinho has reiterated his desire to call time on his glittering managerial career in a "few more years".

Mourinho, 59, is one of the greatest managers of all time. He's won 26 trophies since becoming a manager 22 years ago, including eight league titles in four different countries, two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues and the Europa Conference League.

The Portuguese has also been named as FIFA's World Coach of the Year, the BBC's Coach of the Year, UEFA's Manager of the Year twice, Serie A's Coach of the Year twice and the Premier League's Manager of the Season three times - among other honours.

Mourinho has made no secret of his plan to retire in his sixties and reaffirmed that desire at the 2022 Quinas de Ouro event. "These 22 years have passed quickly, but I want to continue," insisted Mourinho. "I feel good, I feel strong [and] motivated.

"I like winning, I hate losing - nothing has changed. The colour of my hair, yes, even the wrinkles, but I want to go on. Not for another 22 years, as there is no time, but for a few more years."

Mourinho has managed Benfica, Uniao de Leiria, Porto, Chelsea (twice), Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma during his managerial career. He was appointed by Roma in July 2021, three months after being sacked by Spurs.

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Mourinho guided Roma to their first European title in 61 years last season by winning the inaugural Europa Conference League, thus becoming the first manager to win all three major European club competitions currently in operation.

Roma are sixth in Serie A, four points behind leaders Napoli and Atalanta. On his team's hopes for the season, Mourinho added: "Last season we did what no one expected, this year we'll try to do better. We don't have the same economic potential as our rivals.

"We had a €7m [£6.1m] transfer market, but we have quality, passion, many people who like to work together, which is an important thing, and then at the end of the season we will see."

Perhaps the only thing left for Mourinho to achieve in football is manage a national team, a role that would give him more freedom and flexibility. Speaking as Tottenham boss in September 2020, the Portuguese admitted his desire to coach at international level.

"Yes, I want to coach a national team, I want to have the experience of a World Cup and European Championship, the emotion of the short competition," admitted Mourinho - just days after the 20th anniversary of the start of his managerial career.

On whether he would manage Portugal, Mourinho said: "Is Portugal the one I want do do? On one side yes as it is my heart. But it is very difficult to do it with the country you were born in."

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