Maniche recalls the moment Porto’s Champions League hopes took flight in 2004 with a remarkable comeback against Manchester United. After United took the lead in the second leg at Old Trafford through Paul Scholes, few expected Porto to overturn the deficit. But a late free-kick from Benni McCarthy, mishandled by United goalkeeper Tim Howard, allowed Costinha to score the decisive goal that sent Porto through to the quarter-finals, sparking a celebration that lives on in Champions League folklore.
Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro, better known as Maniche, credits Jose Mourinho’s belief and tactical calm for helping them seize the title that season. “Mourinho simply told us that we can win this if we maintained our calm and stayed patient throughout the different phases of the game,” Maniche said. “He kept stressing on the fact that we had to have the ball as much as we could, but to be honest in these games speeches don’t matter, everyone knows the importance of the game, without your own belief that you could win this, there is no possible speech that could turn things around!”
Maniche’s relationship with Mourinho began under tense circumstances at Benfica in 2000. Mourinho had just stepped up from assistant to manager at the age of 27, but the partnership was rocky. Maniche was sent off twice in nine games, leading Mourinho to order him to run laps after the second red card. The midfielder was furious, but Mourinho’s next day’s speech changed the course of their relationship. Within weeks, Maniche’s attitude shifted enough for Mourinho to appoint him Benfica’s captain.
“At the beginning, it was not easy because we both had identical personalities, we just had that massive desire to win,” Maniche said. “With my character and hard work, I showed in training that I was better than my colleagues, but to be honest the most important reason was how I performed in the matches, doing my job.”
Mourinho’s brief spell at Benfica ended in December 2000, but his managerial journey soon saw him prove critics wrong at União de Leiria, pushing the minnows above Porto and Benfica in the league. His success earned him the Porto job in January 2002, where he reunited with Maniche. After contract disagreements with Benfica’s president, Maniche accepted Mourinho’s offer to join Porto under more favourable terms.
The move paid off immediately. Maniche played a significant part in Mourinho’s first treble at Porto, winning the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, and UEFA Cup in the 2002-03 season. “I had a tough time at Benfica but with enough determination, I was able to overcome that,” Maniche said. “It is not easy to be a player without playing the important games, but I was fortunate enough to find an ambitious group with a hunger to win. All the players had high quality, the team had a lot of spirit, but more importantly we had the needed confidence and character to win what we won.”
The following season, Porto’s Champions League run defied expectations. Drawn in a group with Real Madrid, Olympique Marseille, and FK Partizan, Porto lost only once and finished second. Their last-16 clash with Manchester United was the turning point. “Our goal was to get as far as possible in the competition, but after defeating Manchester United we started to believe we can actually win this thing,” Maniche said.
Porto’s path to lifting Europe’s premier club trophy culminated in a final victory that remains one of the competition’s great surprises. Mourinho’s influence extended beyond tactics; he wrote the preface to Maniche’s 2018 autobiography, describing him as “the sweet rebel,” revealing the depth of their connection on and off the pitch. “Nobody knows me better than Mourinho, not just as a player but on a personal level too,” Maniche said.
Maniche’s career spanned six countries, including a Serie A title with Inter and deep runs with Portugal in Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. Yet the 2004 Champions League title remains the defining achievement. “It’s an unbelievable honour to triumph with the title every player in Europe hopes to win one day,” he said.
When Mourinho left Benfica after just nine games, the club’s decision was soon questioned as he built a legacy at Porto. Maniche’s story reflects the manager’s ability to inspire players with strong characters, guiding them toward success against the odds. After the dramatic win at Old Trafford, Porto returned home with renewed confidence, ready to chase the ultimate prize.
According to Planet Football.
