Modernized, revived Mourinho ready to inspire at Tottenham

Jose Mourinho, to be successful at Tottenham, must modernize and leave his former dogmatic, dictatorial management style in the past. 

The style of management that Mourinho made famous is almost completely antiquated, pretty much defunct in the modern era. The charming Portuguese has already shown signs of adapting, point and case with the hiring of his entirely new coaching ensemble.

Joao Sacramento, who joins from Lille, is Mourinho’s new right hand man. Goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos also joins from Lille. Mourinho spent the better part of a year scouting his new team, formulating a modern plan for this eventuality.

Still attached to people from previous coaching jobs – Carlos Lalin, part of Mourinho’s backroom staff at Chelsea, Man United and Real Madrid, and Ricardo Formosinho and Giovanni Cerra, both of whom worked with him at Old Trafford, arrive at Spurs as tactical and technical analysts respectively – the Portuguese manager has delicately balanced flavour from the past with new, imaginative flair from the present.

It’s a calculated, savvy move from an astute tactician. Hopefully it’s the first sign of a modified, revived Mourinho.

No longer will players accept a throwback tyrannical ruler from a bygone era. Players won’t tolerate being perpetually barked at, disciplined at every turn. The millennial generation needs nurturing, a pat on the back, an arm around the shoulder, positive reinforcement. Surely Mourinho, from his past failings, has learned this.

Mourinho, in his first press conference yesterday afternoon, said he won’t make the same mistakes from the past. Hopefully that means demanding accountability, leading by example all the while respecting his player’s millennial sensitivities.

The old school Portuguese also says he has spent a year developing a new philosophy. I’ll believe it when I see it, but Mourinho is intelligent enough to do exactly that. Maybe his year away from the pitch has provided the perspective and insight he needed to thrive at a club long term.

You can’t judge Mourinho on his first few months in charge at Spurs. History suggests he’ll elicit a wondrous, empowered response from his newly inspired side.

The question is whether he’ll be able to sustain it and help Tottenham eventually secure their first silverware since 2008.