From Arjen Robben and Marko Arnautovic to Jimmy Smith and Dom Solanke… the 55 youngsters Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho claims he brought through
- Jose Mourinho was unveiled as Manchester United’s manager on Tuesday
- The United boss claims he has given 55 players their chance as youngsters
- He has given notepad of names he handed consistent first-team football to
- Mourinho’s list of players surprisingly included Arjen Robben at Chelsea
- Sportsmail studies 55 players in question and looks at where they are now
Jose Mourinho came out fighting over his perceived aversion to offering youth a chance armed with a notepad of names he has handed consistent first-team football to during his managerial career.
The new Manchester United manager foresaw questions on his strategy, pertinent given the amount of teenagers who made their debut under Louis van Gaal last season.
Those included Marcus Rashford, who is set to play a significant role under Mourinho and alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Jose Mourinho poses proudly with the Manchester United shirt as he is unveiled at Old Trafford on Tuesday
The 53-year-old tactician displays a Red Devils scarf as he held his first press conference as United manager
Mourinho – whose list of players surprisingly included Arjen Robben at Chelsea – was keen to reject what he believes is a myth about his management.
‘You know how many young players I promote to the first team from academies? Forty-nine,’ he said.
‘Do you want to know who they are? Forty-nine. Forty-nine. If anyone is interested, I can give you that.
Mourinho defended his record with youth as he was unveiled as Manchester United manager on Tuesday
Mourinho’s appointment will raise fears that Manchester United’s academy players won’t get their chance
The United boss then privately recounted the names and the list was later sent out with more than previously suggested, finishing with 55. On it are either academy products or players under the age of 21 he has given debuts to at their new clubs.
Robben cost Chelsea £12million in the summer of 2004 having starred for Groningen and PSV as well as at Euro 2004.
The Dutchman had made his international debut 18 months before making his Chelsea bow and was being chased by the world’s top teams – including United.
Mario Balotelli is also on the list having already made his debut for Inter Milan by the time Mourinho took over in 2008, although he did flourish under the Portuguese, playing 70 games in two seasons.
Mourinho also pointed to a number of youngsters at Real Madrid, including Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Alvaro Morata and Jese.
The former Chelsea boss landed the Manchester United manager’s job, replacing Louis van Gaal (pictured)
Van Gaal had not been afraid to play youngsters including Marcus Rashford, who enjoyed a stunning season
‘Some of them are big names, they are today Champions League winners or in the Euros, playing for national teams and it is a lot,’ Mourinho added.
‘So once more, one lie repeated many times, sometimes it looks like it’s true but it will be always a lie. So for many times, many of you – with or without intention – that is not the point, I don’t care about it – but it was not true.
‘My record of injuries is very very low. Even in many years from the Champions League studies about every team, my teams were many times the teams with less injuries in the whole of Europe.
‘So I never promote players because of need, I did it because of conviction and decision. And last year was the only season of my career when I was not fighting for the title.’
Here, Sportsmail looks at the 55 players in question and gives the lowdown on where they are now.
Arjen Robben cost Chelsea £12m in the summer of 2004 having starred for Groningen and PSV
BENFICA (2)
Diogo Luis
Made debut against Braga in 2000. Last played for Cypriot side Apollon Limassol in 2009.
Geraldo Alves
Centre back made just five league appearances after debut in 2000. Now with Astra Giurgiu.
UNIAO LEIRIA (2)
Nuno Laranjeiro
Became a first-team regular for Uniao Leiria and also played for Portugal U21. Now with Fatima
Joao Paulo Andrade
Another player to cement first-team spot at Uniao Leiria and even captained team.
Mourinho, then manager of Porto, is pictured delivering instructions to midfielder Carlos Alberto in 2004
PORTO (6)
Carlos Alberto
Opened the scoring in 3-0 Champions League triumph over Monaco in 2004. Five caps for Brazil.
Bruno Morais
The striker made just 17 league appearances during seven years with Portuguese giants.
Pedro Oliveira
Has played in Italy with Modena and also made five appearances for Portugal Under 21s
Reinaldo Garcia
He played for Porto for six seasons then moved to Spanish roller hockey where he became the star for Liceo La Coruna.
Joca
Retired from football in 2004 and is now assistant manager at Espinho.
Hugo Luz
Struggled for first-team action and went on to play in lower divisions of Portuguese football.
Robben, now starring in Germany with Bayern Munich, poses with Mourinho after winning respective awards
CHELSEA – FIRST SPELL (10)
Arjen Robben (U21)
Signed as a highly-rated winger but struggled with injuries. Now starring for Bayern Munich.
Lassana Diarra (U21)
Also played under Mourinho at Real Madrid. Now back in France with Marseille.
John Mikel Obi (U21)
Made first appearance in 2006. The 29-year-old Nigerian remains at Stamford Bridge.
Sam Hutchinson
Had a loan spell in Holland with Vitesse Arnhem. Now impressing with Sheffield Wednesday.
Jimmy Smith
Was highly-rated but failed to live up to the hype. Currently with League Two’s Crawley Town.
John Mikel Obi arrived at Chelsea in 2006 and is still a part of the first-team squad at the Premier League side
Jimmy Smith was highly-rated but failed to live up to hype and is currently with League Two’s Crawley Town
Michael Woods
Signed from Leeds in 2006, but again failed to live up to expectations. Now playing in midfield with Hartlepool.
Anthony Grant
Made just one league appearance at Stamford Bridge. The 29-year-old is now playing for Port Vale.
Ben Sahar
Signed from Hapoel Tel Aviv but was unable to hit the ground running. Back in Israel with Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Steven Watt
Scottish defender begun his career at Aberdeen. Now playing in non-League with Hastings.
Lenny Pidgeley
The goalkeeper had tough task of getting ahead of Petr Cech in pecking order. Now 32, he was last at Forest Green Rovers.
Lenny Pidgeley came through the ranks at Chelsea when Petr Cech was the undisputed No 1 in west London
INTER MILAN (7)
Davide Santon
Went on to play in the Premier League with Newcastle before return to Inter last year.
Marko Arnautovic (U21)
The Stoke City star is now starring in the English top-flight after arriving in 2013.
Alen Stevanovic
The winger failed to cement first-team spot in Milan and is now playing for Partizan.
Mario Balotelli
Didn’t make his debut under Mourinho but the then 19-year-old played 70 matches in two seasons.
Mourinho promoted Davide Santon, seen here playing against David Beckham, to the Inter first team
Marko Arnautovic played under Mourinho at Inter and is now starring in the English top-flight with Stoke
Luca Caldirola
The 25-year-old Italian centre back is now with Werder Bremen after failing to make league appearance for Inter.
Giulio Donati
After failing to make the grade at Inter, he went on to player for Bayer Leverkusen and is now with Mainz.
Rene Krhin
Made five league appearance for Inter. A Slovenia international, he is now playing for Grenada.
Mario Balotelli didn’t make his debut under Mourinho but the then 19-year-old played 70 matches under him
REAL MADRID (21)
Raphael Varane
Signed from Lens in 2011 for £8.5million. Now a regular at the heart of the Real Madrid defence.
Alvaro Morata
Made debut in 2010 after progressing through Real’s B team. Sold to Juventus in 2014 but bought back this summer.
Casemiro
Signed from Sao Paolo for £4million in 2013. Now a regular under Zinedine Zidane.
Nacho
Made debut in 2011 after coming through the B team. Still at Real and a Spanish international
Jese
Debuted in 2011. Still at Real in a support role.
Joselu
Scored on his one and only La Liga appearance in 2011. Now at Stoke.
Tomas Mejias
Another to make his La Liga debut in 2011. Now back-up goalkeeper under Aitor Karanka at Middlesbrough.
Raphael Varane is now a regular at the heart of the Real Madrid defence after joining from Lens in 2011
Omar Mascarel
Made his debut in 2013. Spent last season on loan at Sporting Gijon.
Fabinho
Made his debut in 2013 on loan from Brazilian side Rio Ave. Never moved to Real permanently and now at Monaco
Pedro Mendes
Made debut in the Champions League while on loan from Sporting Lisbon in 2013. Now at Rennes.
Jose Rodriguez
Made his debut in 2012 in a Copa del Rey game. Moved from Galatasaray to Mainz this summer.
Denis Cherishev
Came through the B team and made debut in 2012. Joined Villarreal this summer.
Pablo Sarabia
Replaced Cristiano Ronaldo for his debut in 2010. Joined Sevilla from Getafe this summer.
Jese made his debut for Real Madrid in 2011 and remains at the club despite struggling for regular football
Juan Carlos
Debuted in 2011. Was on loan at Malaga, from Braga, last season.
Diego Lorente
Made his Real debut in 2013. Was on loan at Rayo Vallecano last season.
Alex Fernandez
A youth graduate who debuted in 2011. Was loaned to Reading from Espanyol in 2015/16.
David Mateos
Debuted in the Champions League against Ajax in 2010. Now playing in the MLS with Orlando City.
Jesus Fernandez Collado
Goalkeeper signed from Numancia and debuted in 2011. Now on the bench at Granada.
Antonio Adan
Youth graduate, debuted in 2010. Now a regular at Betis.
Fernando Pacheco Flores
Goalkeeper debuted in Copa del Rey in 2011. Now first choice at Alaves.
Jorge Casado
Another to debut in 2011. He’s now playing in the Spanish second division for Ponferradina.
Spain striker Alvaro Morata made debut for Spanish giants in 2010 after progressing through Real’s B team
CHELSEA – SECOND SPELL (7)
Kurt Zouma
Joined Chelsea for £12million from St Etienne and debuted in 2014. Played 33 times for Chelsea last season.
Lewis Baker
Hailed by Mourinho, Baker debuted in 2014. Has been on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons and most recently feeder club Vitesse Arnhem.
Dominic Solanke
Became Chelsea’s youngest Champions League player on his debut in 2014. Another on loan at Vitesse.
France international Kurt Zouma joined Chelsea for £12million from St Etienne and debuted in 2014
John Swift
Made his debut on the final day of the 2013-14 season. Was last on loan at Brentford.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Made his debut in the Champions League in 2014. Signed a bumper new deal at Chelsea last season.
Andreas Christensen
Debut came in the League Cup in 2014. Was player of the year at Borussia Monchengladbach while on loan last season.
Bertrand Traore
Made his debut in 2015 after red tape saw him loaned to Vitesse. Played 16 times for Chelsea last season.
Dominic Solanke (right) became Chelsea’s youngest Champions League player on his debut in 2014
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3675531/From-Arjen-Robben-Marko-Arnautovic-Jimmy-Smith-Dom-Solanke-55-youngsters-Manchester-United-boss-Jose-Mourinho-claims-brought-through.html#ixzz4DYsj6efP
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