The best thing about Mourinho as far as I’m concerned was the role he played in crushing the Manchester Utd, Arsenal duopoly in the Premier League. For that reason, he will always be “The Special One.” It was with some nostalgia that I watched this series last night.
Mourinho is a thoroughly engaging, high-production three-part Netflix documentary series that delivers an intimate, trophy-laden portrait of one of football’s most charismatic, polarizing, and successful managers. Released globally on 11 August 2026 and directed by BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated Joe Pearlman (known for work on Robbie Williams and Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now), with production from double Academy Award-winner John Battsek (of the acclaimed Beckham series), it benefits from two years of exclusive access to José Mourinho himself.
The series charts the arc of “The Special One” with energy and style, beginning with his breakthrough at Porto—capped by the stunning 2004 Champions League triumph—and moving through his transformative first spell at Chelsea, the historic treble-winning campaign at Inter Milan, the intense Real Madrid years, and key later chapters. It captures the essence of a manager who won league titles in four different countries and lifted the Champions League twice, revolutionizing what it meant to lead elite clubs while generating endless headlines and contradictions.
What elevates Mourinho is the exceptional roster of interviewees who bring the story to life with candid reflections. Sir Alex Ferguson, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Samuel Eto’o, Iker Casillas, Marcelo, Javier Zanetti, Petr Čech, Eden Hazard, and many others offer firsthand accounts of Mourinho’s methods, motivational genius, and larger-than-life presence. These voices illuminate why players would “run through walls” for him and how he commanded dressing rooms across Europe. Mourinho’s own interviews form the emotional core—charismatic, self-assured, and occasionally revealing—including the notable confession about nearly succeeding Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 before choosing to return to Chelsea for a sense of belonging and love after his Madrid experience.
The production values shine throughout. Archival footage of iconic matches and celebrations pairs seamlessly with contemporary reflections, creating a dynamic, fast-paced narrative that feels both celebratory and insightful. Mourinho’s personality leaps off the screen: the competitive fire, the tactical obsession, the theatrical flair, and the unapologetic drive that turned him into a global icon. Moments of vulnerability—such as reflections involving family—add human depth without diluting the larger-than-life mythos. As Mourinho himself notes in spirit, you don’t make a documentary about someone who wins nothing; this series earns its subject by focusing on two decades of sustained excellence and the force-of-nature persona that made him essential viewing.
For football fans, Mourinho is pure box office. It celebrates the wins, the rivalries, the mind games, and the pure drama of a career that redefined modern management. Even as it portrays football’s ultimate contradiction—the winner the game can’t live without and sometimes struggles to live with—it leaves you admiring the relentless ambition and the special quality that made José Mourinho a legend.
Still, I felt that some of the conflict was glossed over. There was ittle mention of the Champions League semi final with Barcelona that almost totally boiled over
Three stars out of five from me.
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