Mourinho Intervenes as Roma fans target Sampdoria’s coach Dejan Stankovic with Racist Chants
Legendary football manager Jose Mourinho set a powerful example of sportsmanship during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on April 2, 2023. As Sampdoria’s coach Dejan Stankovic reacted furiously to the team’s reduction to 10 men, Roma fans directed racist chants towards him.
However, Mourinho, who has won Champions League titles with FC Porto and Inter Milan, as well as league titles with Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid in the top-five European leagues, quickly intervened by stepping onto the field and signaling fans to stop their chants.
Stankovic Thanks Mourinho for His Intervention and Stands Proud of His Heritage
Mourinho’s actions paid dividends, as the Roma fans acknowledged his request by stopping their chants and instead resorting to boos. In a heartwarming response to the incident, the 60-year-old manager explained that he did it for a “great man and a great friend” and emphasized that his friends and family should not be subjected to such behavior.
Stankovic, who played under Mourinho at Inter Milan and is of Serbian heritage, thanked Mourinho for his intervention. The former player-turned-manager also stated that he is proud of who he is, despite the chants directed towards him. Roma eventually secured a 3-0 victory over Sampdoria, with Georginio Wijnaldum, Paulo Dybala, and Stephan El Shaarawy scoring goals.
Roma Climbs to Fifth Place in Serie A Following Win
While the win moves Roma up to fifth place in Serie A and level on points with fourth-placed Inter as they look to qualify for the Champions League, Sampdoria is in 19th place and faces a significant battle to avoid relegation.
Stankovic, who spent much of his playing career at Inter, representing the club between 2004 and 2013, was appointed as Sampdoria’s manager in October 2022 after a successful spell as assistant manager of Udinese and manager of Red Star Belgrade.
