Jose Mourinho is a football manager who commands respect. This man is a true genius, Inter Milan's Champions League on Saturday proves it. Yes, he can be seen as arrogant and over-confident, but when you have won the number of honours that the self proclaimed 'Special One' has achieved in such a short space of time, in a way you can understand why.
There are few managers that have won three titles in three different countries (FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan) but Mourinho has proved he is a class apart. With Inter Milan's 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday, he has joined the elite list of manager who has won the Champions League with two different clubs. First time, he did it was with FC Porto in 2004.
He may not produce the most entertaining football, but you cannot doubt the quality of Mourinho. He is a tactician, who can read the opponents' game within minutes and can formulaise a counter attack.
Before the start of the season, Mourinho did fantastic deal by getting Samuel Eto'o and money for the Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And then he came up with a stunning transfer by buying Wesley Sneijder for just £12m. That proved to be the buy of the season.
What didn't sound like a good deal was spending over £20m for a striker who was about to turn 30, had never played a game for a bigger club. Yes, we are talking about none other then Inter's new king Diego Milito. He was just another striker for everyone else but for Mourinho he had goals in him and he was right.
Even Mourinho probably didn't believe he would score 30 goals - including the goals that won them the Serie A title, the Italian Cup and then the biggest prize in club football, the Champions League.
The biggest test for Mourinho this season was to face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final and everybody's money was on Barcelona to go past Inter easily. But with his super tactics in the second leg, Mourinho got better of Barcelona in the semi-finals - and noone really ever doubted he'd finish the season with the Champions League trophy for the second time in his career following that.
It's no secret that he'll probably swap Inter Milan for big spenders Real Madrid this summer, but what a parting gift he has given to Inter - their first European Cup success since 1965. Once again, the proof is Jose Mourinho really is the 'Special One.'
If he really completes his transfer to Real Madrid, then Barcelona have a point to worry about. This man loves to win trophies and few would be surprised if he ends Real Madrid's trophy draught next year itself.
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