Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Guest(s)
Release Date
5 October 2023
Duration
58 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney relive the incredible rise of FC Porto under José Mourinho, charting the story of how a Portuguese outsider built one of the most tactically brilliant and mentally relentless teams of the modern era.
When Mourinho arrived at Porto in early 2002, the club was fractured and underperforming. Within two seasons, he had created a winning machine — one that would conquer Portugal, Europe, and the imagination of football fans around the world. Drawing on lessons from his time under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, Mourinho fused tactical precision with unshakeable self-belief.
The 2002–03 UEFA Cup triumph laid the foundation — a thrilling extra-time win over Celtic that announced Porto to Europe. A year later, they shocked the footballing establishment by winning the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, defeating Monaco 3–0 in the final and outclassing giants along the way.
Mourinho’s Porto combined ruthless organisation with counter-attacking brilliance. Players like Deco, Carvalho, Maniche, Costinha, and Vítor Baía embodied his tactical demands — disciplined out of possession, devastating in transition. Every match was a masterclass in preparation and belief.
This episode dissects the structure, mentality, and culture that made Porto’s success possible — from Mourinho’s famed “us against the world” mentality to the data-driven and psychological details that set him apart. It also explores how this triumph launched Mourinho’s global career and reshaped expectations of what an “underdog” could achieve.
FC Porto 2002–2004 were not just winners — they were architects of a new footballing era.
Takeaways
Porto’s success under Mourinho redefined what a “small club” could achieve.
Mourinho’s preparation and psychology revolutionised modern management.
The 2004 Champions League run was a tactical masterclass.
Key players like Deco and Carvalho epitomised intelligence and discipline.
Mourinho’s Porto laid the foundation for two decades of football evolution.
FC Porto 2002–2004: The Making of Mourinho
Between 2002 and 2004, FC Porto achieved the unthinkable — transforming from domestic challengers into champions of Europe under a young, fiercely ambitious manager named José Mourinho.
Arriving at a fractured club in mid-season, Mourinho promised Porto would be “the best team in Portugal next year and the best in Europe the year after.” He kept his word. His methods — rooted in analysis, motivation, and meticulous preparation — revolutionised modern coaching.
In 2003, Porto lifted the UEFA Cup, defeating Celtic 3–2 in an epic final. One year later, they stunned Europe by winning the Champions League, brushing aside giants like Manchester United, Lyon, and Deportivo before dismantling Monaco in the final. It was a tactical and psychological triumph — a masterclass in precision and unity.
With Deco orchestrating play, Carvalho marshalling the defence, and Maniche and Costinha running the midfield, Porto executed Mourinho’s blueprint to perfection. Their football was organised yet explosive, methodical yet daring.
Beyond trophies, Porto 2002–2004 changed football’s landscape. Mourinho’s success proved that intelligence and preparation could outweigh budgets and reputations. His self-belief — embodied in his famous touchline sprint at Old Trafford — became the blueprint for a new generation of managers.
Two decades later, Porto’s triumphs remain a symbol of what’s possible when strategy, spirit, and self-belief align.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Mourinho’s arrival and transformation of FC Porto
Tactical structure and defensive organisation
The UEFA Cup win vs Celtic in 2003
The 2004 Champions League campaign and final vs Monaco
The legacy of Mourinho’s methods and mindset
Mourinho’s appointment and instant turnaround in 2002
UEFA Cup Final win vs Celtic (3–2 AET, 2003)
Champions League semi-final triumph over Deportivo
Mourinho’s touchline sprint at Old Trafford after eliminating Manchester United
Champions League Final win vs Monaco (3–0, 2004)
Mourinho’s emotional farewell before joining Chelsea
Notable Manager
José Mourinho
Notable Players
Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Vítor Baía, Paulo Ferreira, Jorge Costa, Nuno Valente, Maniche, Costinha, Derlei, Benni McCarthy, Dmitri Alenichev, Pedro Mendes
Style of Play
4-3-1-2 Formation, Compact Mid-Block, Rapid Transitions, Vertical Passing, Counter-Attacking Precision, Tactical Discipline
Mourinho’s FC Porto (2002–2004) were the embodiment of structure and strategy — a team that played with balance, belief, and ruthless precision. Built around a 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3, Porto’s system emphasised compact defence, quick vertical transitions, and clinical exploitation of space.
At the heart of Mourinho’s design was control. The team pressed selectively rather than constantly, forcing opponents into specific zones where midfielders Maniche and Costinha could win second balls and trigger transitions. Behind them, Ricardo Carvalho and Jorge Costa formed one of Europe’s most cohesive centre-back pairings — aggressive yet intelligent, shielded by meticulous positional awareness.
In attack, Deco was the conductor — a playmaker given freedom within a rigid structure. Every forward movement revolved around his creativity and vision, supported by the dynamic runs of Derlei, Benni McCarthy, and Alenichev. Full-backs Ferreira and Valente provided width, while the midfield maintained discipline to prevent exposure on the counter.
Mourinho’s greatest innovation was psychological. Porto believed they were unbeatable because their preparation made them so. Every opponent was studied, every pattern rehearsed. They could sit deep and frustrate, or strike with lightning transitions. Their victories were not flukes — they were engineered.
This was football as chess: intelligent, emotional, and perfectly timed. Porto’s style was not about beauty for its own sake — it was about mastery of the moment.
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