Jose Mourinho’s Consistency Becomes A Sore Point

Initially urban legend or not, Tottenham Hotspur’s recent loss at home to Everton is proof again that the so-called “Jose effect” is real. As in Spurs manager Jose Mourinho. And as in the same Spurs that nearly a decade last lost a home-game against Everton.

Not that Jose Mourinho should be labelled an outright “cooler” or token of exceptional bad luck. It isn’t as if he’s not in the past enjoyed building up quite the track record at most of the clubs he’s served.

In fact, so consistent has his track record been that this too has become a definite pattern – and one by now nearly sure-fire predictable. His is a pattern of appointment followed by almost-always immediate success. All of which eventually leads to his being booted around 3 years later – this after he’s typically spent an entire first season on the job overspending on new and expensive players and developing his team into Premier League champions.

In The Beginning

But if this description seems out of whack with the overall theme, then it’s because this isn’t where the story typically ends – not by a long shot. What follows next is generally a trophy, good times all round, and a healthy dose of glory and success. Just ask Real Madrid, to name but a single example. Think a title aced at the expense of Barcelona, a Serie A Inter Milan win, the Italian Cup, and finally, the Champion’s League.

Also – think Chelsea, and then, think Man-U. Had it not been for Jose Mourinho, the Old Trafford side would in all likelihood not have collected a “complete set” of trophies upon winning the prestigious Europa League UEFA Cup.

The Inevitable Turn

But this – sadly – marks the Jose Mourinho turning point.

The real issue with appointing Mourinho club manager isn’t the initial years or even an absence of successes. Instead, it’s how Jose Mourinho leaves. More specifically, it’s the state Jose Mourinho leaves each club in upon his inevitable departure. And worse even is the fact that here too, we see the predictability factor at play. Only this time round, we get to bank on overpriced and seriously disgruntled stars milking their clubs for millions, clubs ending far in the red, and just a general situation of money troubles all over the show.

Oddly enough, Tottenham Hotspur certainly appears to be the undoing of Jose Mourinho – whatever that may mean. Now a year at Spurs, Mourinho has won not a single title or trophy, managing only to lead the team to a 6^th-place finish. And as far as first-season predictability goes, that too is officially off the table. And what a first season too – eight months of no play on the back of a global catastrophe, followed by a losing re-start.

He’s Nowhere Near Gone

The only thing left remaining to be predicted now is basically whether or not Jose Mourinho will be shown the exit by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

And even this too, isn’t quite as clear a prediction as what one would immediately assume it to be. Even though Mourinho is basically the guy holding open the outward-bound money hatch, he’s still nowhere near worthy of a job-loss bet.

All of which bodes super poorly for those punters responsible for the third of all money wagered on Mourinho in the “Sack Race”. Still – much more money has been flung in the direction of a likely David Moyes sacking.

Now if only a third manager would be willing to go all in on the peeving off of the hiring-and-firing powers that be.