A very special Europa League final

The biggest star is not on the pitch in the beautiful Puskás Aréna on Wednesday evening, but on the sidelines. For around two decades, José Mourinho has been one of the most successful and controversial coaches in world football. If he wins the Europa League final with AS Roma in Budapest against FC Sevilla and wins his sixth international title as a coach, he will become the sole record holder. “The Special One” would then also be “The Only One”.

Sevilla have been in the final of the competition six times so far and the Spaniards have won it six times - more often than any other club. If anyone can end this impressive series, it will certainly be Mourinho. The Portuguese's thirst for titles is unbroken. “The DNA is motivation and joy, the desire for big moments,” he said of himself before his sixth European Cup final as coach. He has won all five so far. Mourinho currently shares the record with the former coach of FC Bayern Munich, Giovanni Trapattoni. Over the years, however, he has become “a better coach, a better person,” said Mourinho, describing his own development.

Mourinho can make himself immortal The 60-year-old has always been fully prepared for success. A brilliant tactician, but also a provocateur. And clearly a human catcher. “He is actually a very special coach who treats all professionals and employees equally. “That’s his secret, everyone feels important and gets that little bit extra out of themselves,” said Rome’s offensive star Paulo Dybala Kicker . Of course, Mourinho is also a “master” of mind games, the Argentine added with a smile. He is “a character you love or hate. However, you can't really blame him for the results he has achieved."

Mourinho won the UEFA Cup with FC Porto in 2003 and the Champions League a year later. He also triumphed in the premier class with Inter Milan in 2010 - in the final against Bayern. In 2017 he won the Europa League title with Manchester United. Mourinho has also caused a sensation in Rome since taking office in the summer of 2021 and has captivated an entire club.

Already a legend in Rome The fans adore him. Last season he won the first edition of the Conference League with the Giallorossi. It was the Romans' first ever European Cup triumph and their first title since winning the Italian Cup in 2008. It "forever changed the course of history in this team and this city, which wanted nothing more than to experience nights like this." “Wrote the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport . Mourinho had “a strong personality and gave the team the will to win,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Last year, Mourinho won the Conference League with Roma. © APA/afp / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE

“He is one of the greats. When you look at where he's been and what he's won, you get scared," said José Luis Mendilibar, who is the third coach to sit on the bench at Sevilla this season, before the duel with Mourinho.

Roma's second international final in two years is coming up in Budapest - and Mourinho only has the cup on his mind. In the difficult last few weeks, in which his team was only able to win one of nine competitive games - the semi-final first leg at Bayer Leverkusen - and had to contend with many injuries, he was the great motivator. He says he doesn't think about the fact that Roma, who are only in sixth place in the league, could qualify for the Champions League with a Europa League victory. He also did not want to comment on the rumors that he could leave the club after this season despite his contract running until 2024. Mourinho only has eyes for the silverware - and the sole record.

Europa League final: Sevilla FC – AS Roma (Wednesday, 21.00 p.m.)

Serie A Italian	SP	TV	P
1. Inter	28	64:22	67
2.Milan	28	44:20	60
3. Naples	28	43:29	56
4. Roma	28	38:21	51
5. As	28	46:21	51
6. Juventus	28	50:28	50
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A very special Europa League final

The Europa League final will take place in Budapest on Wednesday evening. José Mourinho can make himself immortal. To do this, however, his Roma would have to break the law of the series.

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