Harry Kane honors Jose Mourinho in Ballon d'Or acceptance speech
During his Ballon d'Or acceptance, England striker Harry Kane thanked former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho for his influence on the player's development.
England captain Harry Kane mentioned former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho in his acceptance speech after winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday in London. Kane, who finished ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, thanked several coaches who he said helped shape his career, including Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte and Gareth Southgate.
"I want to give a shoutout to some of my coaches who have helped me along the way. Jose Mourinho is one of them," Kane said.
Mourinho coached Kane at Tottenham from November 2019 to April 2021, a period during which Kane increased his involvement in build-up play and recorded 23 goals and 14 assists in the 2020-21 Premier League season, earning both the Golden Boot and Playmaker awards. The acknowledgment comes as Mourinho's Real Madrid side recently defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou.
Kane’s remarks highlight the lasting impact of Mourinho’s coaching on the striker’s development, while Mbappé, who placed second in the Ballon d'Or rankings, remains a key figure for Paris Saint-Germain.