José Mourinho’s return to the Olimpico on Wednesday will bring Roma back into contact with one of the defining figures of its recent European story. The Portuguese coach arrives with Real, but the evening will carry memories that reach well beyond the fixture itself.
When Mourinho took charge in the summer of 2021, he told Roma supporters that they would win together. Within roughly ten months, that promise had become tangible in Tirana, where Nicolò Zaniolo’s goal against Feyenoord delivered the Europa Conference League trophy.
The Curva Sud, which followed him through celebration and frustration, is expected to give him a reception shaped by that shared period. Mourinho was more than a coach during his time in the capital: he became a public face of a side that restored a European trophy to the club.
Quick facts
- Mourinho returns to the Olimpico on Wednesday as Real coach.
- He led Roma from 2021 until his dismissal in January, three years later.
- Roma won the Conference League under him in 2022, beating Feyenoord in Tirana.
- He will again encounter referee François Letexier after his February sending-off in Benfica-Real.
- The Friedkin ownership group could also cross paths with their former Roma manager.
There is another, less sentimental thread to the night. François Letexier will referee the match, having dismissed Mourinho during Benfica’s meeting with Real on 17 February.
That game at the Estádio da Luz changed tone after Vinícius scored and was booked while celebrating. He then clashed with Argentina’s Gianluca Prestianni, who spoke while covering his mouth; Vinícius believed he had been called “monkey”.
The match was halted for 10 minutes as tensions rose. Once play resumed, the contest remained volatile, and Mourinho was sent off within seven minutes after becoming involved in the confrontation. His staff had to lead him away from the touchline.
Mourinho continued his criticism after the final whistle, claiming Letexier had concealed a note listing players who should not be shown yellow cards. He later joked that he would be suspended for the return leg, while hoping Anthony Taylor would not be appointed.
The Olimpico may also bring him face to face with the Friedkins, the owners who appointed him amid an extraordinary welcome from thousands of Roma fans at the airport. Their relationship ended abruptly on a January morning, following a defeat to Milan.
For supporters, the dismissal was difficult to accept. Mourinho had supplied silverware, reached another European final and built an unusually direct bond with the stands. Wednesday’s reunion will therefore belong as much to Roma’s recent past as to the latest match in its season-long journey.
