History has been made at the Estádio da Luz! On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, despite his side’s narrow 1–0 defeat to Real Madrid and his subsequent red card, José Mourinho officially became the first manager in history to lead seven different clubs into the Champions League knockout stages.
From his breakout triumph with Porto to his current resurgence with Benfica, "The Special One" has proven that his tactical blueprint is a universal language that translates across every major league in Europe.
The "Mourinho Seven": A Tour of European Greatness
Mourinho’s journey through the knockout phases is a roadmap of modern football history. Here are the seven teams he has guided to the business end of the competition:
1. FC Porto 🇵🇹,Winners (2003/04) — The legendary run that started it all.
2. Chelsea 🏴,Multiple Semi-Finals across two different spells.
3. Inter Milan 🇮🇹,Winners (2009/10) — Part of the historic Italian Treble.
4. Real Madrid 🇪🇸,"Ended the ""Round of 16 Curse,"" reaching 3 straight Semi-Finals."
5. Manchester United 🏴,Guided them to the 2017/18 Round of 16.
6. Tottenham 🏴,Reached the Round of 16 in the 2019/20 season.
7. Benfica 🇵🇹,Current (2025/26) — Taking the Eagles into the play-off/knockout phase.
Why This Record Matters
Versatility: Most "elite" managers find success in one specific system or league. Mourinho has achieved knockout status in Portugal, England, Italy, and Spain, often taking over teams in transition and immediately making them competitive on the continent.
Longevity: His first knockout appearance was in 2004; his latest is in 2026. Maintaining a seat at the top table for over 22 years is a feat matched only by the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti.
The Benfica Full Circle: Returning to the club where he started his managerial career in 2000 and immediately leading them back into the elite bracket of the Champions League is a narrative arc only Mourinho could script.
The Verdict: While the red card means he’ll miss the touchline for the second leg in Madrid, this record cements Mourinho's status as the ultimate "hired gun" for European success. No manager in history has proven more capable of taking a group of players and turning them into a knockout-stage threat, regardless of the crest on the shirt.