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"At a club of Real Madrid's stature, a victory shouldn't send everyone into a state of wild celebration," José Mourinho stated after watching his side cruise to a comfortable 3–0 win against Valencia on Saturday. Nevertheless, that result carried a certain weight for the Portuguese manager.
Having secured his 97th win in his 126th league appearance, Mourinho now stands alone as the coach with the highest win percentage (77%) in La Liga history, overtaking his long-time rival from Barcelona, Pep Guardiola.
"I wasn't aware of these records," Mourinho confessed when presented with the impressive figures. "It's something to be proud of. La Liga has been home to some outstanding coaches, so achieving numbers like these is genuinely meaningful."
Managers With the Best Win Rate in La Liga History
Data via MisterChip. Only managers with more than 100 matches in the competition are included.
Guardiola and Mourinho occupy a class of their own among the elite. The two former Barcelona colleagues pushed each other to extraordinary levels from opposing benches during an increasingly bitter Clásico rivalry at the start of the last decade, with Mourinho steering Real Madrid to a record-breaking 2011–12 title to finally halt Guardiola's celebrated dream team featuring Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta & Co.
Mourinho had been widely tipped to claim another title after Guardiola's departure in 2012, but his Madrid squad ultimately buckled under the weight of his relentless expectations. It had seemed as though Mourinho's La Liga legacy would end with a lesser record than Guardiola's when he departed in 2013, but the self-proclaimed 'special one' has turned back time with a remarkable new chapter 13 years on.
Madrid strolled to victory over Valencia on Saturday, registering an eighth consecutive win across all competitions for the first time since 2022. Mourinho has not only got his team winning, but playing a commanding style of football with consistent patterns that suggest long-term success is on the horizon.
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Yan Diomande is proof talent always finds its way. pic.twitter.com/3qJ48xVcNQ
"The credit belongs to the players," Mourinho deflected this weekend. "I don't believe there's a single 'secret' behind what they're producing; they are performing both individually and collectively, and there has been real development.
"Today, we controlled possession well and were rarely tested defensively, but whenever we did lose the ball, the response was superb. There was a moment in the second half where [Kylian] Mbappé sprinted back to cover [Arda] Güler's position—they are showing tremendous team spirit. From my experience, this squad has a very exciting feel about it."
Madrid's recent form has lifted them to second in the Champions League standings and brought them within a single win of both Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, their two primary rivals in the La Liga title race. Yet, if this is to be a successful season, Mourinho knows all too well that there is no room for excessive celebration in November.
"It simply tells me that we need to go out and win the next game," the shrewd manager concluded. "In football, impressive statistics are quickly forgotten; we cannot live on the achievements of the past."