<
>

Jose Mourinho: 'Impossible' for me to match Sir Alex Ferguson record

Jose Mourinho said it is "impossible" for him to emulate former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson by winning the Premier League 13 times.

The Portuguese won the English top flight for the third time on Sunday when Chelsea were crowned champions, just as they were in 2005 and 2006 under his charge.

It was an eighth league title in the last 12 full seasons in management for the 52-year-old, who also triumphed with Porto twice, Inter Milan twice and Real Madrid.

Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after 26 years as United manager, had only won the Premier League once when he turned 52.

But although Mourinho has achieved more at an earlier age, he ruled out equalling the Scot and suggested he may be able to win five more league titles before he retires.

"I have a long way to go but Sir Alex left the bar in an impossible position for anyone," Mourinho told BT Sport. "Impossible. I cannot win 13 Premier Leagues. I can win 13 championships. I have eight. I think I can go to 13. But 13 Premier Leagues? No, no chance."

After Ferguson, the next most successful managers in the history of the English top flight are Liverpool's Bob Paisley and Aston Villa's secretary-manager George Ramsay, who both won six league titles.