Jose Mourinho handed a “big boost” to one Manchester United cult hero after the message he sent him following his arrival at Old Trafford.
The 61-year-old former Manchester United manager took his place in the Old Trafford dugout in 2016 after Louis van Gaal was sacked from the Premier League club.
Jose Mourinho enjoyed success in his debut season at United, including leading the Red Devils to a Europa League title and a League Cup.
The ‘Special One’ built on the success of the 2016-17 season and led United to a second-place finish in the Premier League in the following season.
Despite leading United to their highest league position since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement at the time, Mourinho’s men fell short of the FA Cup trophy in the same season.
Mourinho, who was sacked from Roma in January, saw his run at Old Trafford finally come to an end in 2018 after he was dismissed from his post at United.
Mourinho’s impact on Man Utd cult hero
Despite his sacking from Manchester United in the 2018-19 season, Jose Mourinho had an impact on both fans at the club and the players under him.
Marouane Fellaini became a key figure under former United managers Louis van Gaal and Mourinho after initially struggling at Old Trafford.
The 36-year-old former Belgium midfielder was the first major United transfer of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era after he was signed from Everton in 2013.
Marouane Fellaini, who retired from football in February, reunited with former Everton boss David Moyes at Old Trafford after his £27.5m move on deadline day.
However, the United and Everton cult hero struggled in his debut season at the Red Devils under David Moyes before the Scotsman was sacked from the club.
Speaking to the UTD Podcast, Fellaini opened up on his relationship with Mourinho and how things started to turn around under the former United manager.
The ex-Belgium international, who received a special message from Mourinho after his retirement, revealed what the Portuguese coach told him on his arrival at United.
“I never met him before [then]. I played against [his teams]. But to meet him, never,” Fellaini said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“But I remember he sent me a message in the summer to say to me: ‘You go nowhere, you know? I count on you.’ So, first of all, this is a big boost.
“So, when you arrive at the pre-season, it was after Euro 2016. I was on holiday, the team was already training, and I arrived late because of the pre-season [tour].
“I was training with [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic one week in Carrington and after that the team arrived from the pre-season.
“But, first of all, directly Mourinho gave me his trust and I had to give him back with everything I can. I had good training with him, I never had a problem with him.
“I gave everything to him, but with all the coaches, I never cheated, I never had [a] problem with the coaches. I always respect their decisions.
“But it’s true with Mourinho, it was great to work under him.”
Fellaini on Man Utd season under Mourinho
Fellaini, who was a polarising figure during his time at United, scored 22 times and registered 12 assists in 177 appearances for the Red Devils.
The former United and Everton star’s run at Old Trafford came to an end in 2019 after he fell down the pecking order under ex-Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Fellaini saw out the remainder of his career at Chinese Super League Shandong Taishan before he hung up his boots in 2024.
Fellaini hailed the influence of Mourinho and admitted the 2016-17 campaign at United was an “amazing season” for him under the ‘Special One.’
“We won the League Cup, we won the Community Shield, we won the Europa League,” he said.
“Three trophies in one year, I played I think around 50 games and [in] more than half [of the matches] I played like a starter.
“So, it was an amazing season for me.”