Idol in Türkiye, Alex praises Mourinho and is revered by rivals
Last Sunday, the meeting of two football legends marked the clash between Antalyaspor and Fenerbahçe, in Türkiye. Alex de Souza, Fenerbahçe idol, had the opportunity to meet renowned coach José Mourinho, who leads the Istanbul team.
The match, valid for the Süper Lig, ended with Fenerbahçe winning 2-0 over Alex’s team.
The clash also marked the Curitiba native’s reunion with Fenerbahçe, the club where he made history between 2004 and 2013, accumulating goals and assists that placed him on the level of being one of the Turkish club’s greatest idols.
The former player, who has a statue at Fenerbahçe, was revered by coach José Mourinho, rival players and also by the Istanbul club’s fans.
Before the opening whistle, Alex and Mourinho had a relaxed meeting on the edge of the pitch. With smiles and a brief hug, the image of the two together went through social media and was the cause of great repercussion, especially among Fenerbahçe fans, who have memories of the genius of the former number 10.
Through his official Instagram account, Alex praised the experienced Portuguese coach.
José Mourinho praises Alex
In a press conference after Fenerbahçe’s victory over Antalyaspor, José Mourinho made a point of praising Alex.
“Alex prepared the team very well to play against us and to try to be solid and not concede chances [para o Fenerbahçe]. Strategically it went well, it was strong, he showed he was a young coach with a future. I hope that one day Alex will become coach of Fenerbahçe”
At the start of the competition in Türkiye, Alex’s team has had an average campaign. In seven games, Antalyaspor won two, drew two and lost three. The team led by Alex is in 13th place.
José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe is in second place, with five wins, one draw and one defeat. The leader of the competition is Galatasaray.
