Jose Mourinho Said He ‘Cannot Believe’ Player He Managed at Man Utd Never Won Ballon d’Or

Jose Mourinho has guided a litany of legendary footballers throughout his tenure as a football manager. Plenty of players have gone on to write their names in the footballing history books, be it by winning the Champions League or winning the Ballon d’Or.

However, one of his former players, who won neither of the aforementioned trophies during his career, was mentioned by Mourinho, who claimed they should have won the Ballon d’Or at 35 years old, if not before then.

There are a handful of names in football who have been more than deserving of the Ballon d’Or, but have never reigned victorious. From Robert Lewandowski in 2020 to Franck Ribery in 2013, sometimes the Golden Ball just evades the hands of deserving winners.

One of those players who never got their flowers in the form of the Golden Ball was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. An electric forward who dominated the game for over two decades, he became a fan favourite wherever he went. Having been managed by Mourinho at Inter Milan and Manchester United, the Portuguese coach revealed his disbelief at the Swede’s lack of Ballon d’Or back in 2017.

Jose Mourinho Named Ibrahimovic as Deserving Recipient of Ballon D’Or

The Swede’s best finish was fourth in 2013

Although the modern consensus of Mourinho is that he is a remarkably entertaining coach, it is easy to forget just how dominant his career on the sidelines has been. Winning the UEFA Champions League with the likes of FC Porto and Inter Milan, the Portuguese has managed a plethora of elite teams during his 25-year managerial career.

Having worked with Ibrahimovic at Inter Milan for just one season, the pair’s relationship blossomed when he signed the Swede to Manchester United in 2016. Securing the forward’s services on a free transfer from PSG, he would go on to score 29 goals in 53 outings.

Despite having labelled his manager as ‘manipulative’, the duo achieved success in the form of the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield. Zlatanera was instrumental in this success, so much so that Mourinho wanted him to win the Ballon d’Or.

Ibrahimovic’s Underrated Manchester United Spell

The Swede had a knack of scoring at the right time

Having joined Manchester United at the age of 34, following a spell in France where he scored 156 times in 180 appearances, many questioned whether the Swede would be able to perform in the best league in the world, especially at the back end of his career.

However, under the guidance of Mourinho, Ibra scored in games such as the Community Shield and the EFL Cup final against Southampton, proving he was just as world-class at 34 as he was in his 20s. Finishing his playing career in 2023, the Swede closed this chapter of his life, never getting the Ballon d’Or, which so many believe he deserved.