Mark Clattenburg recalls launching boot towards Jose Mourinho in furious bust-up

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was rarely a popular figure during his time at the club and that sentiment seems to have been extended to the referees in the division.

Mourinho managed United between 2016 and 2018 and although he was credited with two trophies in his brief stint at the club, it will always be remembered for the disastrous half-season in the 2018/19 season.

Things were slowly deteriorating and when the situation had gotten out of hand, the club stepped in and replaced him with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has spent a large chunk of his time at the club putting out fires started by Mourinho.

Mourinho’s first season at United was his best campaign, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s arrival on a free transfer typifying the Portuguese’s instant impact. There was, however, one incident where he has been painted as a villain-type person.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has recalled an incident in 2017 where he supposedly threw a boot towards Mourinho in a furious bust-up following a 1-1 draw between Stoke City and Manchester United.

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“It was Stoke versus Manchester United on January 21 2017. Wayne Rooney had broken Sir Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United scoring record with a late free-kick for a 1-1 draw. It was not long after full-time when there was a knock at my dressing room door and United manager Jose Mourinho came in. I was just taking my boots off,” Clattenburg wrote in his Daily Mail column.

“‘You must be happy this time,’ I said. ‘You can’t blame me for that draw, can you?’ ‘I can,’ he said. He started going on about a handball in the penalty area by Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross. ‘What you on about?’ I said. ‘I got that right, I know I did.’ ‘No. I’ve seen the video. You were wrong.’

“He was going on and on. Shut up man, will you? I picked up my boot and launched it against the wall next to him. ‘F***ing get out of my dressing room. Get out!’  Mourinho froze. I lost it with him. I did not give a s*** any more.

“He did not know what to say. I was so fed up with all of the ridiculous mind games.I drove home while going over and over the Shawcross incident. I watched it on Match of the Day and I was right, the ball hit him flush on the chest. So why was Mourinho playing funny buggers with me?

“I went to bed that night and I knew I’d had enough. ‘You know what,’ I thought, ‘I can’t be bothered with idiots like that any more.'”

Clattenburg’s story does sound very much like one Mourinho would be involved in. Perhaps the now-Roma manager will respond with his own tale?

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