Jose Mourinho has enjoyed greater achievements in his glittering managerial career, but Roma's Europa Conference League triumph reduced him to tears after the 'Special One' delivered the Italian club their first major European trophy.

Europe's third-tier club competition has been derided in some quarters, but for Mourinho the win over Feyenoord was every bit as important as his two Champions Leagues triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.

Mourinho becomes the first manager to win all three major European competitions after making it five wins in five European finals.

"Football is about winning and Mourinho wins," said former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves on BT Sport.

"He's a serial winner and he has brought this Roma team to life."

Mourinho's clean sweep of European trophies
Club Season Competition
Porto 2002-03 Uefa Cup
Porto 2003-04 Champions League
Inter Milan 2009-10 Champions League
Manchester United 2016-17 Europa League
Roma 2021-22 Europa Conference League

Box office Mourinho delivers again
This was the 26th trophy of Mourinho's managerial career - 19 years after he masterminded Porto's Uefa Cup win in 2003.

He was announced as Roma boss last May and was tasked with building the club up after a disappointing seventh-placed finish in Serie A in 2020-21.

"Mourinho said it wasn't part of the plan [to win the trophy]. The plan was to build this team, it was the start of the project," Joe Cole, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea, told BT Sport.

Roma's run to the final was not all smooth, with the Portuguese coming under fire after an embarrassing 6-1 defeat by Bodo/Glimt in the group stage last October.

"The great thing about my career is that, aside from the Europa League with Manchester United, doing it with Porto, Inter and Roma is very, very, very special," Mourinho said.

"It is one thing to win when everyone expects it, when you made the investments to win, but it's quite another to win when something feels immortal, that feels truly special.

"This remains in the history of Roma, but also mine. I was told only I, Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Giovanni Trapattoni won trophies in three different decades. It makes me feel a little old, but it's nice for my career."

Mourinho has installed a spirit and togetherness that has seen Roma bounce back and secure a first trophy for 14 years.

The hard work, according to Cole, has only just started.

"Roma have gone through a few managers, lost a direction and an identity. Jose's loved in the city but there is a way to go," he added.

"These scenes now, especially for the lads who've come through the ranks at Roma - you cannot go to that city and not feel the club.

"Football is a religion there and they will feel like heroes and be remembered, but this is the start of the journey. Jose will be back in the office, planning whether they can have a go at the Europa League and get closer to titles."

'He's the best'
This was Mourinho's first trophy since winning the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017.

Chris Smalling was part of the United side that defeated Ajax in Stockholm five years ago and the 32-year-old defender produced a man-of-the-match performance to help secure Roma a first trophy since 2008.

"Even when I first came to Roma three years ago, it was a long time since they had won a trophy," said Smalling.

"So we knew how much it was going to mean for everyone at Roma tow in something."


Smalling's post-match interview on the pitch with BT Sport was gatecrashed by team-mate and England forward Tammy Abraham.

"He's the best," said a jubilant Abraham before planting a kiss on his Smalling's cheek.

Such has been Abraham's impact since joining Roma from Chelsea for £34m last August that he finishes his first season in Italy with 27 goals, a European trophy and a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad.

"One thing I said when I came was I was going to help my team get to the final and win a trophy in my first season. Credit to my team-mates for excellent performances," said Abraham.

The Special One

abeg stop all these noise...mourinho back then wont even see any big deal if a manager wins Europa or conference league because he do talk down on small trophies like dis..
Wetin concern pep with Europa or conference, is roma not too big to celebrate conference league? not even Europa..
so if united wins conference after 6 seasons of trophiless, u would celebrate?? dts mediocrity na

paulolee:
abeg stop all these noise...mourinho back then wont even see any big deal if a manager wins Europa or conference league because he do talk down on small trophies like dis..
Wetin concern pep with Europa or conference, is roma not too big to celebrate conference league? not even Europa..
so if united wins conference after 6 seasons of trophiless, u would celebrate?? dts mediocrity na

As odd it may sound to u, and by the categories of ranks, Europa Conference league trophy is bigger than carabao cup and FA cup.

MorataFC:
As odd it may sound to u, and by the categories of ranks, Europa Conference league trophy is bigger than carabao cup and FA cup.

meaning?? because mou won it?? jus say its also bigger n better than winning 3 EPL in 4 seasons...I mean the Almighty EPL o....stayed almost 8 years in England BT wasnt close..

paulolee:

meaning?? because mou won it?? jus say its also bigger n better than winning 3 EPL in 4 seasons...I mean the Almighty EPL o....stayed almost 8 years in England BT wasnt close..

What are you saying sef? This is totally out of point. Can u win 3 EPL in one season?

MorataFC:
What are you saying sef? This is totally out of point. Can u win 3 EPL in one season?

pep have won 3 EPL in 4 seasons...it would av been 4 straight if not for Liverpool...
currently, pep has more EPL titles than all the coaches combined in EPL...

MorataFC:
As odd it may sound to u, and by the categories of ranks, Europa Conference league trophy is bigger than carabao cup and FA cup.

My brother I tire for some people ohhhhh, this is a that made history yesterday in euro.
A man that has won eufa competition with 4 different clubs, which has never happened in d history of eufa.
Abeg accord him d respect jare

paulolee:

pep have won 3 EPL in 4 seasons...it would av been 4 straight if not for Liverpool...
currently, pep has more EPL titles than all the coaches combined in EPL...

Nobody is disputing Pep, we are only talking about Jose Mou, a man that made history yesterday in Eufa competitions. Tell me any coach that has done it in d history of Eufa?