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Jose Mourinho called up his former assistant to congratulate him on his team’s Egyptian Super Cup semi-final win after watching one of the most dramatic penalty shootouts ever on Christmas Day.
Ricardo Formosinho has worked alongside Mourinho at Porto, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham over the last 20 years, but is now in charge of the Egyptian top flight outfit Modern Future.
He led his side in their last-four clash with Pyramids on Monday, and the game itself was a rather drab affair that ended goalless.
Few could have foreseen the drama that was set to unfold, as the two teams then took part in a penalty shootout that needed a remarkable 34 spot-kicks to find a winner, with Modern Future eventually prevailing 14-13.
As the shootout went beyond 22 penalties, some players were required to step up twice. Pyramids defender Osama Galal took two penalties and failed to score on both occasions, with his second miss handing the win to Modern Future.
Formosinho spoke to the media after his side’s victory, but his press conference was interrupted by a phone call from Mourinho, who had been keeping tabs on the shootout at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
As his phone began to ring, Formosinho reached into his pocket and quickly realised who was calling him.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he made it clear to the press that he was going to take the call as he held up his phone and said: ‘Sorry, but guys I have to… [it’s] Jose Mourinho!’
As he answered the call, Formosinho immediately referred to Mourinho as ‘boss’, highlighting the high regard that he still holds him in despite the pair parting ways in recent years.
Formosinho and Mourinho spoke on the phone for around 15 seconds before the former ended the call to resume his press conference.
One member of the media joked ‘say hi to him’ after realising that Formosinho was speaking to one of the greatest managers of the 21st century.
His cheeky request fell on deaf ears, but Formosinho was clearly delighted to hear from Mourinho just minutes after triumphing in a historic penalty shootout.
Mourinho and Formosinho have achieved great success together over the years, winning the Champions League with Porto, plus the League Cup and Europa League during Mourinho’s first season at United.
Formosinho was also part of Madrid’s scouting department when they accumulated 100 points in the 2011-12 season to win LaLiga ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Modern Future will face Al-Ahly in Thursday’s final after they beat Ceramica Cleopatra in the other semi-final.
