Jose Mourinho has taken great delight in starting two of Spain’s Euro 2024 heroes on their path towards glory – but admits he wrongly ignored a third.
Spain secured their fourth European Championship with a 2-1 victory over England in the final in Berlin on Sunday night, when forward Mikel Oyarzabal came off the bench to score the winner in the 86th minute.
Winger Nico Williams had earlier given Spain the lead shortly after half-time, before Cole Palmer grabbed England’s equaliser within moments of coming on.
Mourinho, who has just taken over as the new manager of Fenerbahce, was watching on, and paid tribute to two players who played under him as youngsters during his spell at Real Madrid.
“2024/ Champions League winner captain Nacho Fernandez/European Champion winner captain Alvaro Morata. Many congratulations to them and to the coach who gave them their debut when they were just kids in the academy,” Mourinho wrote on Instagram, accompanied with images of him with the two players.
He then added jokingly: “Came coach who did not understand that Dani Carvajal was another one! Many congratulations to Mister De La Fuente for an amazing job. Best team won!”
Forward Morata, Spain’s captain, joined Madrid as a youngster in 2008 and made his debut under Mourinho in December 2010. Nacho came through the youth ranks at the club and made his senior debut in April 2011. He has left Real this summer to join Saudi side Al Qadsiah.
Right-back Carvajal was on the books in Madrid during Mourinho’s three years as manager, but after stints with the B team and a loan at Bayer Leverkusen he would have to wait until 2013 for his debut, after Mourinho left.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente was in a joyous mood after the victory, saying: “I’m really happy about my country, about Spain, about the excitement we have created and I hope everybody feels as proud about this generation of players who can make history and have a long future ahead of them.
“All I wanted was for my players to believe in me and to be convinced of what I told them, not only me, but also the whole technical staff. I feel proud. We have earned this. Nobody gave us anything for free. The harder things are to get, the more valuable they are.”