The Special One by Diego Torres

This episode covers The Special One: The Secret World of Jose Mourinho by Diego Torres, Jerry's pick timed to Mourinho's appointment as Real Madrid manager. Jerry and Stably discuss the book's chronicle of Mourinho's tumultuous 2010-2013 Madrid tenure, focusing on his combative management style: cultivating an atmosphere of fear and favoritism, sidelining players unrepresented by super-agent Jorge Mendes, and blaming referees for losses. They examine his fraught relationship with president Florentino Perez, the locker-room fractures between Portuguese and Spanish players, and his eventual exit following a player revolt. Both note the book's one-sided framing and oddly literal English translation, while drawing comparisons to authoritarian leadership styles. They recommend it for soccer fans despite its insider assumptions.