Fell from the top, José Mourinho faces his first european setback

José Mourinho arrived at the Europa League final with a dual objective: to reclaim glory in his new stint with Roma and maintain his impeccable record in European tournament finals. The experienced Portuguese coach had previously won the UEFA Champions League twice (with Porto and Inter Milan), the Europa League twice (with Porto and Manchester United), and the Conference League (with Roma), amassing an impressive record of five victories and no defeats in continental finals.

However, in Budapest, the sixth final proved to be the exception. After a 1-1 draw in regular time and extra time, the Europa League 2023 title was decided in a penalty shootout. It was there that Sevilla triumphed convincingly with a 4-1 victory, becoming the first team to deny Mourinho another title.

Despite the bitterness of the defeat, the Portuguese coach showed respect towards the opposing team and accepted the outcome with professionalism. Sevilla became an insurmountable obstacle for Mourinho, leaving him close to glory but ultimately falling short on this occasion.

Despite this setback, José Mourinho will continue to be one of the most successful coaches in the history of European football, boasting an impressive trophy cabinet in international competitions. His ability to lead teams to finals has been a hallmark of his career, and although he couldn't add another title to his collection this time, his legacy as a winning strategist remains intact.

His new record 

José Mourinho witnessed the end of his undefeated streak in European finals. In the thrilling penalty shootout against Sevilla, the Portuguese coach suffered his first defeat in the decisive match before claiming the trophy. With this result, his record now stands at five victories and a solitary defeat in continental tournament finals.