Martin O’Neill has taken a swipe at Jose Mourinho for Porto’s UEFA Cup antics 22 years ago following his return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night…
Henrik Larsson of Celtic is sent flying by the challenge from Jorge Costa of FC Porto during the UEFA Cup Final match held on May 21, 2003 at the Estadio Olimpico in Seville, Spain. FC Porto won the match and trophy 3-2 after extra-time. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Mourinho made his return to London this week, leading his new Benfica team into a Champions League meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Although Mourinho’s European return dominated the spotlight, former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill grabbed some attention of his own from the Premier Sports studio.
The ex-Hoops boss spoke warmly about the Special One, highlighting Mourinho’s knack for handling star players and maintaining a winning touch. Yet O’Neill also slipped in a playful nod to Jose’s managerial history, referencing Celtic’s contentious 2003 UEFA Cup final against Mourinho’s Porto.
Deco of FC Porto takes the ball past Dianbobo Balde of Celtic during the UEFA Cup Final match held on May 21, 2003 at the Estadio Olimpico in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Speaking via Premier Sports, O’Neill said: “I think he’s a great manager, a really great manager. He’s very, very clever. But it doesn’t mean that they didn’t cheat their whole way to the UEFA Cup final and lie down in heaps and go to Porto every single day. Travesty, travesty that game.”
Martin O’Neill still holding a grudge against Mourinho has warmed my soul this morning 😂 pic.twitter.com/nyc45OPt8a
— Fitzy (@Fitzy__07) October 1, 2025
After his sharp remark, O’Neill was soon back to commending Mourinho’s achievements and lasting impact on the game. The quip was light-hearted, but it underlined that, even 22 years later, O’Neill still remembers the sting of Celtic’s loss to Mourinho’s Porto in Seville, and so do we all.
Bobo Balde of Celtic is sent off by referee Lubos Michel during the UEFA Cup Final match between Celtic and FC Porto held on May 21, 2003 at the Estadio Olimpico in Seville, Spain. FC Porto won the match and trophy 3-2 after extra-time. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Brendan Rodgers has mentioned the Seville run quite a number of times so far since Celtic’s calamitous exit to Kairat Almaty as the Hoops will be aiming to go far in the Europa League. O’Neill’s Celtic side had lost a Champions League qualifier to FCBasel that ultimately led Celtic to the UEFA Cup run, sp perhaps history can repeat itself this year as Celtic contest the Europa League.
21.05.2003 Photo imago/Miguelez Sports FC Porto – Celtic Glasgow 3:2 n.V., Vdig Sevilla Dynamik, Fußball EC 3 Herren Mannschaft Gruppenbild Aktion Personen
The Hoops face Portuguese outfit Braga this evening at Celtic Park and will be looking for their first victory in Europe this campaign. With the top eight places in the competition guaranteeing last 16 football, that should be the goal for Rodgers’ men between now and January.
After years of misery in Europe – last season being the exception – it would be pleasing to see Celtic make progressing by winning a few knockout games at the very least.
Conor Spence
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