Jose Mourinho, former manager of Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United recently stated that he cannot go to Africa.
While sharing insights into his relationships with some of his former players, Mourinho highlighted his admiration for African players.
He expressed his fondness for working with African players but also mentioned a humorous incident involving one of his former players, Essien.
In an interview on FIVE, presented by Rio Ferdinand, Mourinho recounted how Essien, the former Ghanaian star, affectionately referred to him as “daddy.”
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However, Mourinho jokingly mentioned that he had to ask Essien to stop using the nickname after some time.
He stated: “I cannot go to Africa.
“Too much everywhere (fanfare). Because, you know, I had, you know, Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast; Geremi, Cameroon; Kalou, Ivory Coast; Obi Mikel, Nigeria; and Essien, Ghana; I have guys all around the world.
“Every time I go to Africa, I cannot walk. The guys love me. Even in Europe, with many African guys, people really love me.
“To be honest, I love the guys, and I feel that the African player is very loyal and very pure.
“Many of them call me daddy, and some of them are almost my age. When Essien calls me daddy, I say, ‘Michael Come on, don’t call me daddy, we’re almost my age,” the 61-year-old said jokingly.
Mourinho also revealed he loved to work with African players.
He said, “But you know this affection exists; you know I love the guys. I love to work with African players.
“I think I take the best out of the guys.
“I think the guys see me as somebody who really loves them and admires their qualities as players. I always loved them, and I always had great responses from African players.”