José Mourinho’s new Netflix documentary has reignited debate over the manager’s controversial career, his relationship with the media and the way his most difficult moments have been portrayed on screen.
José Mourinho has never been a stranger to controversy, and his new three-part Netflix documentary appears to be no different.
The documentary, which chronicles the Portuguese manager’s career and personality, has attracted attention not only because of the revelations surrounding Mourinho but also because of the way the filmmakers challenged him during the production.
The series was made by Ventureland, the production company behind Beckham and FIFA Uncovered. Directors Joe Pearlman and producer Miles Coleman spent nearly three years working on the project, beginning shortly after Mourinho was dismissed by Roma.
Rather than producing a straightforward celebration of Mourinho’s achievements, the filmmakers made it clear from the beginning that they intended to challenge the former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester United manager.
That approach did not always sit comfortably with Mourinho.
Mourinho was not always happy with the questions
One of the most revealing moments came during an interview when Mourinho became frustrated with the line of questioning.
After the interview, he reportedly left the room saying: “I f—–g hated that.”
Yet, despite the confrontation, Mourinho soon returned to a more relaxed mood. Just 10 minutes later, while travelling back to mainland Portugal on a ferry, he spotted members of the production crew and began waving and smiling at them.
For director Joe Pearlman, moments like this were part of what made the documentary possible.
Pearlman acknowledged that the filmmakers themselves were “being manipulated” during the process, but argued that this was almost inevitable when making a documentary about someone as powerful and unpredictable as Mourinho.
The filmmakers wanted to challenge Mourinho
The documentary was never intended to be a simple celebration of Mourinho’s successes.
The filmmakers specifically questioned some of the most controversial aspects of his career, including his so-called “third-season syndrome” — the perception that Mourinho’s relationships with clubs often deteriorate during his third season.
When Pearlman raised the subject directly, Mourinho responded with a death stare before avoiding the question.
Another emotional moment came when the filmmakers asked him about the death of his father during Mourinho’s time at Manchester United. The normally guarded manager appeared visibly emotional and shut down the line of questioning.
Pearlman said he was surprised by how quickly Mourinho’s vulnerability surfaced.
Iker Casillas opens up about their bitter relationship
Another major talking point is the inclusion of former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas.
Casillas and Mourinho famously fell out during the Portuguese manager’s first spell at Real Madrid. Mourinho suspected that the goalkeeper was leaking information from the dressing room to the media, while his decision to drop Casillas contributed to tensions within the squad.
Casillas’ appearance gives viewers an opportunity to hear his side of the story.
The filmmakers described securing the former Spain international as one of the most significant achievements of the production.
Why isn’t Pep Guardiola in the documentary?
One of the most notable absences is Pep Guardiola.
Mourinho and Guardiola developed one of football’s most famous managerial rivalries during their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Their clashes became a defining feature of Spanish football in the early 2010s.
According to the documentary makers, Guardiola had agreed to participate — but with one condition.
Mourinho had to personally ask him.
He never did.
As a result, Guardiola does not appear in the documentary.
For Pearlman, the episode itself says something about the personalities of both managers and their complicated relationship.
The documentary also reveals previously unknown stories
The series reportedly contains several revelations from Mourinho’s long career.
Among them is the revelation that Mourinho turned down the opportunity to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013.
The documentary also revisits an incident from Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea, when he obtained training-ground footage of Sam Allardyce giving tactical instructions to his Bolton players before a league match.
Such episodes offer a glimpse into the methods Mourinho used to gain an advantage over his opponents.
But according to producer Miles Coleman, the biggest revelation is not about Mourinho’s tactical methods or controversial incidents.
Instead, it concerns Mourinho’s relationship with people.
Coleman argues that there is a paradox at the centre of Mourinho’s personality: one of football’s greatest man-managers may actually have surprisingly little interest in people’s personal backgrounds — including his own.
That, according to the filmmakers, is one of the most unexpected things viewers will discover about the man behind the famous “Special One” persona.
A documentary about Mourinho — but not necessarily a celebration of Mourinho
The controversy surrounding the Netflix documentary ultimately comes down to how Mourinho is portrayed.
Rather than presenting him simply as the legendary manager who won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan and collected major trophies across Europe, the series attempts to examine the personality behind the success.
Mourinho’s vulnerability, confrontational nature, relationships, rivalries and controversial decisions are all placed under the microscope.
And that may be precisely why the documentary has generated so much interest.
After more than two decades at the centre of football’s biggest stories, Mourinho remains one of the sport’s most fascinating figures — and, as the documentary makers discovered, perhaps one of its most difficult personalities to fully understand.
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