Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho first come to mind when the most bitter dugout rivalry is thought of. The 2 have been engaged in a war of words countless times, and once almost came to blows on the touchline while tempers flared 2 seasons ago. It’s safe to say there is no love lost between these 2 great coaches, and the feeling is definitely mutual.
But who’s the better of the coaching pair? Here are 3 reasons why the north London club manager beats his Manchester counterpart hands down.
Job Stability
Arsene Wenger has been in charge of Arsenal for 2 decades. That’s 20 full seasons. You’ve to be very good at your work to remain that long in a job. This isn’t about who has been able to deliver the results in a short-term and leave for the next available offer.
It’s about who has held it down for so long and made a long-lasting legacy out of it. Jose’s longest year at any of the 7 sides he has coached is 3 years, and his disgraceful exits after the 3rd seasons have come about as a result of his style and methods becoming unpopular.
Wenger’s methods revolutionized EPL football back in 1996, and he has 3 league titles to prove it. His entertaining style of play has been sustained over the years, and it’s understandable why the club’s management aren’t very keen to let him go. Such iconic game-changing managers are almost irreplaceable.
Same can’t be said of Jose despite his numerous accolades. Chelsea couldn’t wait to discard him last season after their epic fail, and same was the story at Real Madrid where he not only fell out with a majority of the club icons, he also tore the Spanish national team apart as every El Classico degenerated into a war.
Players Development
A lot of success stories of many current and ex-footballers were authored by Wenger. From Henry, Viera, Fabregas, Van Persie to Koscielny, the Frenchman helped turned these lot into world beaters.
His man-management abilities have never come under doubts, and that’s something the temperamental and loose cannon Mourinho can let 1 or 2 lessons from. Only if his pride and arrogance would allow it.
Jose is a stark contrast to Wenger’s genius when it comes to getting the best of young and struggling players. The Portuguese wants them ready-made and doesn’t have the patience to guide even the most promising of youngsters into a finished product.
Lukaku and De Bruyne are 2 examples of the many great mistakes the impatient one has committed. Should we talk of the many players that went from hero to zero just in a season under his tutelage?
Club growth and consistency
Wenger has grown Arsenal to become one of the best teams in the world, and even though the club’s lack of major titles in the past decade comes under heavy scrutiny and calls for concern, how they have consistently finished in top 4 for 16 consecutive seasons isn’t a small feat. Arsene is a master of consistency and he is no doubt the best thing to has ever happened to the club.
Mourinho? He only keeps it going for 2 seasons and the 3rd season curse sets in. Jose is a mercenary who comes to get the job done on a short-term basis. He is no way near Wenger when we consider, compare and contrast these track records. The England F.A have always hoped to get Wenger. He is the man for the long-term and sustainable project. And he’s far better than Jose Mourinho.