CHAPTER 1
THE RETURN

Sitges is a small tourist town,some 20 kilometres from Barcelona,capital of Catalonia.In May 1996,Jose Mourinho,along with Bobby Robson,joined Barcelona Football Club,and when the club's directors suggested he live in Sitges,in a magnificent duplex by the sea,he didn't hesitate.The town reminded him of Setubal,the city where he was born and where he had always lived.Just like the capital of the Sado,the sea also bathes Sitges.It would be a good place to adapt to a new country,and he would find it easier to remember his orgins as he looked out out to sea,over the white sandy beaches.Sitges,like Setubal,also has its esplanades and cafes stretching along the coast,as well as fresh fish and seafood - and that typical summer atmosphere that begins as early as May.Most importantly,though,it is only twenty minutes from Barcelona,but is still a quiet country town,at least in winter.A relaxing place where you can find much needed relief from stress - much like Setubal,a good place to live.

Four years later,on a hot summer's day in June,we drove slowly along Sitges' long and narrow coastal road.Halfway along,Jose Mourinho stopped his black Volvo cabriolet,parked and slowly got out of the car.It was early,and although the journey ahead was long,there was time to bid one last farewell to the friends he's made as soon as he arrived in Catalonia.

Among the first people he'd met in Sitges were the Mattas.They had got on well immediately and their friendship had grown steady.It grew even stronger when his wife Tami,who was five months pregnant at the time,joined Mourinho.Moving to another country,even one so close to Portugal,is never easy and the Mattas family understood that they could play a role in this new chapter - which they did,to perfection.Five brothers and a sister,the Mattas run several family businesses in Spain.If one of the family wasn't around,ther was always another to count on - or the wife or one of the children of the various couples.So,even when Jose Mourinho was away at training camp,or when Barcelona played abroad,Tami never felt alone.

Javi Mattas stood at the entrance to the Sports Bar.It was as if he'd guessed that his Portuguese friend had arrived.We went in,had coffee,and read the headlines of the Barcelona sports newspapers.Not one did any of us mention the past or the future,football or Barcelona.We made small talk - nothing emotional.

A TOUGH FINAL YEAR

We then set off on the long journey back to Setubal.As we were Leaving Sitges,I watched Jose Mourinho.I always have an uncontollable urge to look back,to try to capture an image of any place I go to,as I believe I'll be able to hold onto it and remember it later.I thought that after four years of living in Sitges,Jose Mourinho would do the same.I was wrong.Unperturbed by anything,my travelling companion just paid careful attention to the road ahead.As always,he was waiting for me to strike up conversation.I usually choose the topics and talk,while he listens an says little.It's been this way through decades of solid friendship;I'm the speaker,he's the listener.

His time at Barcelona had very nearly come to an end a year before.In the close season of 1999,various clubs had invited Mourinho to be head coach.The most attractive offer had come from Sporting de Braga.I was one of the people who dissuaded him from accepting,and I can well remember my reasoning:"What can you expect if you go?You might get fired six months from now,as so often happens in Portuguese football.You've got nothing to gain,but much to lose.Here in Barcelona,you have a fantastic life,you learn a lot from great masters and great players,you have no pressure in terms of winning or losing,you live in a wonderful city,and you're making good money.At 38,you should stay here and enjoy the good life God is giving you."

However,his last year in Barcelona had proved to be difficult.Even today,I'm still not sure if my advice was the best a friend could give;my only consolation is that I wasn't the only one to think this way.Relatives,including his own father,and other friends also advised Jose Mourinho to stay in Spain.

He wasn't happy that final year - the last year in which he worked with Louis Van Gaal - neither personally,nor professionally.He later confided in me that he'd been "a frustrated coach" during that period.He went on to expain that he's stayed in Spain because he would earn more money there than if he had come to Portugal as a head coach,and so he could continue to give his family a fantastic quality of life.But,above all,hestayed on at Barcelona because his hopes ere still set on the only trophy he hadn't yet won as assistant coach:the Champions League.

As assistant coach in Portugal he'd won two Leagues,a Cup and two Super Cups;while in Spain he'd won two Leagues,two King's Cups,two Super Cups,a Cup Winners Cup,and a European Super Cup.However,he dreamed of winning the Champions League,and he knew for certain that 1999 would be his last year with Bacelona.A man of strong conviction,Jose Mourinho believed it was possible for him to help bring Barcelona the ultimate glory for a football club,and so he decided to stay.

A year later,he received the same advice,except that the decision to leave Barcelona had alreay been taken.This time,nothing would stop Mourinho from following the path he had set out for himself.All the advice in the world would not sway him,and those closest to him realised that Ze Mario was not open to talking,discussing or even exchanging any thoughts on this matter.Now,some years later,he still praises his wife for always standing by him then,both as companion and friend.

"Tami was always there and she sitnessed the moments of anguish I went through that fianl year.She kept up with everything and understood what I was going through.I would often get home and act more like a critic than an assistant coach.During the day I would work at Nou Cmap,the serious and faithful assistant I'd always been.At home I was far more critical,often thinking about how Van Gaal had taken this one off and pu that one on,whereas I would have done this and that.So,I was already an anguished assistant coach,somewhat harsh,even overly critical,I'd say.This situration made me realise that my time there was over.Tami understood this perfectly because she was and lived with my dramas,doubts and anguish.It was she who always stood at my side and supported me in a decision that was by no means easy,but which seemed inevitable."

And inevitable it was.Furthermore,Louis Van Gaal,who'd trained Barcelona for three years also left the club,as did the president,Josep Luis Nunez.It wasn't a good season for a club that was used to winning everything,even though their European dream only came to an end in the semi-finals against Valencia.

A replacement for Nunez was found a few months before the end of the Spainish league season,when the Blau-grana members elected a man that Mourinho knew and respected,.but who,he felt,did not have the same leadership capacity as his predecessor.That man was the former vice-president,Joan Gaspart.With Van Gaal gone and the season over,the Spaniard Serra Ferre,who'd come from Barcelona's cantera,was,after some hesitation,chosen a head coach.If Mourinho had been alittle indiferent to the first decision,he disagreed with second.With another year left,he rescinded his contract.He did not believe Barcelona would succeed with Serra Ferrer at the helm.

With SItges now behind us,the Volvo glided along the wide,well-kept Spanish motorways.If we kept up a good speed,nine hours of travelling lay ahead.Jose Mourinho's last journey in the Barcelona chapter.I remember having accompanied him that first day,him and Bobby Robson,when they'd set off to sign their contract.Four years later,with his family and belongings already back in Setubal,I now accompanied him on his last day,when he'd gone to pick up the only thing he'd left in Barcelona - his car.Jose Mourinho left as he had arrived.No fanfare and no drama.