Jose Mourinho, a manager renowned for his tactical genius, has found himself in the middle of a storm in Turkey. His Fenerbahçe side had just battled Galatasaray to a goalless draw on February 24 when accusations of racism were hurled his way by the opposing club. Galatasaray swiftly announced plans for legal action, attempting to stain the reputation of the Portuguese tactician.

But Mourinho did not stand alone.

Amid the controversy, a powerful voice emerged in his defense—African players. The manager, who has spent decades coaching some of the continent’s finest talents, received unwavering support from former stars such as Ivorian icon Didier Drogba and Ghana’s midfield powerhouse Michael Essien.

“I thank the people who didn’t have a problem speaking [out], especially my boys, my former players. They were a very important voice,” Mourinho expressed, clearly moved by the solidarity.

His career has been deeply intertwined with African footballers. At Chelsea, Nigerian midfield enforcer John Mikel Obi played a vital role in Mourinho’s multiple Premier League triumphs, while Samuel Eto’o—a striker of immense pedigree—helped Inter Milan to a historic treble in 2010 before reuniting with Mourinho at Chelsea. And then there was Essien, a player Mourinho affectionately called his “son,” a man whose power and versatility in midfield made him indispensable.

With a deep-rooted history of working with and mentoring African players, Mourinho remained defiant in the face of Galatasaray’s allegations. He responded not just with words but with legal action, filing a lawsuit seeking damages of 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (£41,000).

“They were not clever in the way they attacked me because they didn’t know my past,” Mourinho stated, dismissing the claims as misguided.

As the legal battle continues, Mourinho remains focused on his true passion—football. His attention is now on leading Fenerbahçe in their Europa League campaign, backed not just by his current squad, but by the loyalty of the players who once fought for him on the pitch.