Mourinho's 5th European title to 'remain immortal' at Roma

ROME (AP) — José Mourinho, the once self-proclaimed “Special One,” might be better described as a “Man of the People” now.

The Portuguese coach extended his perfect record in European finals to five titles by guiding Roma to the inaugural Europa Conference League trophy. After winning nearly everywhere he’s been, most recently with European powers Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United, bringing Roma its first continental trophy in more than six decades has a different feeling.

“It’s one thing to win when everyone expects you to win, when the squad is made to win, when the investments have been made to win, but it’s entirely different to win things that remain immortal, that stay forever,” a teary-eyed Mourinho said following Roma’s 1-0 victory over Feyenoord in Tirana, Albania, on Wednesday. “That makes you feel truly special.”

Roma, a three-time Serie A champion that had lost its previous two European finals, hadn’t won anything at all since raising the often-neglected Italian Cup trophy 14 years earlier.

Mourinho also won the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 Champions League finals with Porto; the 2010 Champions League final with Inter Milan; and the 2017 Europa League final with Manchester United -- making him the first manager to lead four different clubs to European titles. He also coached Chelsea and Real Madrid to numerous domestic trophies.

At the final whistle, Mourinho held up five fingers to signify his five European titles as he jumped up and down in celebration.

“Of course I think about myself but I’m thinking much more about the Romanista fans who can celebrate tonight,” he said. “I hope they can enjoy themselves. This will live on forever.”

Besides the few thousand Roma spectators inside the small National Arena in Tirana, 50,000 Giallorossi supporters watched the game on giant screens at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. At the final whistle, fans ran onto the empty field at the Olimpico, waving banners and singing the team’s songs.

The celebrations went on all night in Rome as fans lit flares in front of the colosseum and buzzed and honked their way through historic piazzas on their scooters. Then 3,000 of them welcomed the team back home at the city’s airport at 4 a.m.

Mourinho, who was a surprise hiring by Roma’s new American owners 11 months ago after he fell out of favor at Tottenham, tapped into Roma’s passionate fan base from the moment he arrived in the Italian capital.

“I feel like a Romanista but that’s how I operate,” he said. “I’m a Portista, an Interista, I’m a Chelseasta. I’m crazy about Real Madrid. Now I’m Romanista. I belong to all these clubs because we achieved moments like this together.”