February 22, 2010 was the day of José Mourinho’s iconic “handcuffs” gesture. The Special One came up with one of the most bizarre antics from his first stint in the Serie A, when he was in charge of Inter.
Thirty-eight minutes into a league game against Sampdoria at the San Siro, the Nerazzurri found themselves down by two men (!) as referee Paolo Tagliavento sent off Walter Samuel and Ivan Ramiro Cordoba. When the second player was shown his marching orders, Mourinho decided he had had enough and crossed his hands in front of a camera in protest, as if to mime they were tied with handcuffs.
Such an exploit earned him a three match-ban and a 40k Euro fee. For the record, the game ended 0-0 as Inter managed to defend themselves despite the double numerical disadvantage and Sampdoria also had a man sent off in the second period.
At full time, Inter President Massimo Moratti commented on Mourinho’s show: “The handcuffs? Only José knows the meaning of his gesture. He is the one who did and who must explain it. Maybe he meant that they are trying to stop us.”
Be that as it may, it didn’t work out as nobody could stop Inter in that season. The 2009/10 was the year of the Triplete, when Inter won the Scudetto, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia. It was perhaps the climax of José Mourinho’s career, who would not win many more trophies after that, but surely continue to delight the footballdom with his quarrels and controversies.