Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson have always enjoyed a close friendship and similar views of football and wine... now that bond will grow even closer at Man United

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There are many similarities between wine and football, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

In one of the Scot’s more philosophical moments, he likened the way clubs seek the best young players and nurture them into outstanding footballers to the way a vineyard harvests the best grapes and, with time and patience, produce the finest wines.

His affinity to red wine is clearly synonymous with his achievements in football and it is a facet of Ferguson’s character which a young, ambitious Jose Mourinho quickly tapped into when he arrived in England.

Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson have always enjoyed a close friendship, even when at rival teams

Mourinho is expected to be appointed Manchester United manager this week, replacing Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal won the FA Cup on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to prevent him being sacked

Marginal gains has become a popular theory for success in sport and Mourinho’s attention to detail in this area helped foster a relationship which would develop into close friendship with the game’s greatest manager.

January 12, 2005, Chelsea’s League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The match finished in a tight goalless draw and Mourinho invited Ferguson into his office for a bottle of red.

Chelsea’s catering staff uncorked what is said to be an Argentine Shiraz while Mourinho laid it on thick, but Ferguson could not see past the abomination in his glass.

‘He was certainly full of it, calling me “boss” and “big man” when we had our post-match drink,’ he said afterwards.

‘But it would help if his greetings were accompanied by a decent glass of wine. What he gave me was paint-stripper.’

Ferguson and Mourinho shake hands before the Manchester United vs Chelsea League Cup semi in 2005

Mourinho watches on as Ferguson issues instructions from the sidelines in the 2007 FA Cup final

The two managers share a word ahead of the 2007 FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium

They shared a laugh; but Mourinho was annoyed at the error, so before the return leg he called a friend in Portugal to send over a bottle of their country’s finest wine.

When he visited Old Trafford two weeks later, it was Mourinho’s 42nd birthday and he brought with him a 1964 vintage Barca Velha, costing upwards of £260, to celebrate. That one hit the spot.

‘From that moment always the same bottle when I play against the boss,’ Mourinho said later. They won 1-0 and went on to lift his first trophy in English football.

Publicly, the pair’s relationship was spiky during Mourinho’s first three-year spell at Chelsea, when they wrestled for Premier Leagues, FA Cups and League Cups.

But Ferguson has always liked that Mourinho plays one character on stage but in private moments jokes about himself, in stark contrast to his alter ego; ego being the operative word there.

That said, by the end of the Mourinho’s final full season, Ferguson was unable to keep his anger at his rival bottled.

Mourinho's Real Madrid got the better of Ferguson's United in the 2012-13 Champions League

Jose Mourinho led Chelsea to their first Premier League title in 2005 - and repeated the feat in 2006

Ferguson's United wrested back control, however, winning the Premier League in 2007

‘I think he should button his lip now for the rest of the season,’ Ferguson said in March 2007, as Mourinho attempted to derail United’s title bid.

‘I may be only just beginning because there is plenty for me to talk about with Jose and referees, and Chelsea and referees. I've got a catalogue of them, a big file, in my office if you want me to bring it out. But we'll leave that for another day.’

Behind-the-scenes, however, Ferguson was developing a growing admiration and respect for his counterpart. 

During that time, Mourinho won five trophies to Ferguson’s two, and the young man who he thought was a cocky bastard — his words — when he arrived in England declaring himself the Special One had proven he was just that.

Ferguson knew when he shared those bottles of wine, or tea at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel, as they would years later, he was in the presence of someone who he saw much of himself reflected in.

‘In the first year at Chelsea when I saw him running along the touchline at Old Trafford, he reminded me of my first years at Aberdeen jumping, raising my arms, celebrating,’ Ferguson wrote in his book, The Secrets of his Success.

Ferguson wasn't initially impressed by Mourinho's touchline celebrations when Porto beat Man United in the 2004 Champions League but he came to admire the Portuguese manager's passion

‘We're only human. We can't hide our emotions. They're always there, they're part of who we are, of our character.’

Only six months after losing his cool about Chelsea and referees, Ferguson was quick to praise Mourinho when he was sacked for the first time. ‘I enjoyed the competition with him. He was something fresh and new to our game. I don't know what I will do with my wine now.’

Now they are great friends and Mourinho has confided in Ferguson about his future on several occasions, while the latter revealed to the former his intention to retire before it was announced in 2013. Mourinho changed Ferguson’s perspective on football management. 

Until his success, Ferguson failed to believe someone who had not played the game could take charge of a club. ‘He's got a marvellous, strong personality and that bridges that gap,’ Ferguson said in an ITV interview.

And like one of Ferguson’s many fine wines, Mourinho has matured over time. ‘He’s good looking, he’s got that sort of George Clooney bit in his hair now,’ Ferguson told BT Sport.

If this escalates, they will need to get their own room. Be sure there will be a bottle of 1964 vintage Barca Velha — and two glasses — on the table between them.

1964 BARCA VELHA 

 

Mourinho's choice of wine for Ferguson would certainly have been appreciated because Barca Velha, and especially a vintage like 1964, is regarded as the pinnacle of what is produced in the Douro Valley and indeed Portugal as a whole. 

Nor would it have come cheap - if Mourinho paid upwards of £260 a decade ago, he might expect to part with more like £370 today. 

Since its creation in 1952, this has been the most celebrated Portuguese wine and the Barca Velha is only applied by producer Casa Ferreirinhas in exceptional years.

It is described on notes as 'classic, intense, complex, elegant and rich.'

The area of production, in the north of the country, is perfect for wine-making with its long, warm and dry summers and old-vine vineyards. 

Mourinho had to up his game after Ferguson complained of the 'paint-stripper' wine being served at Stamford Bridge when he joined the then-Chelsea manager for a drink following the first leg of their 2005 League Cup semi-final.

Mourinho was annoyed at his faux pas and for the return leg, on his 42nd birthday, he brought to Old Trafford with him the 1964 vintage - which was much more to Ferguson's satisfaction and no doubt soothing after a 3-1 defeat.

The Chelsea manager has consulted a friend back in his homeland and requested they send over the best wine Portugal has to offer.

It certainly proved a shrewd choice.