Mourinho aims to emulate Ferguson

Jose Mourinho hopes he can remain a top-level coach for more than 20 more years, emulating Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Scottish manager remains in charge at Old Trafford as a 70-year-old while the Real Madrid boss is comparatively young as he approaches his 50th birthday in January.

Mourinho insists his love of the game will keep him coaching, and admits he can relate to why his former Premier League adversary defies his age and continues to succeed at the highest level.

“I understand perfectly why Alex is still in the job (at the age of 70) and I think I will be the same,” he told Sky Sports.

“I love football so much, I love coaching so much. I will still be very young when I become 50 and I believe I have a lot in front of me.

“Fifty is a number with a certain impact – it’s a number I believe sometimes has a psychologically negative impact on many people because they realise the world spins very, very fast and our lives are very, very short.

“It’s a number that makes me think and look back but also look forward too. I’m such a happy person because what I have done so far I think is amazing.”

Mourinho is currently the only man to have won the league title in England, Italy and Spain as head coach of Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid respectively.

“I look back and reflect on this and have to be thankful for what God gave me,” he said.

“But at the same time I look forward and I feel myself better than ever, stronger than ever, with more experience and I think I’m still at the beginning of my professional life.”