Jose Mourinho made a jibe about his former player Kurt Zouma and his own love for dogs
Legendary football manager Jose Mourinho delivered a cheeky dig at former West Ham defender Kurt Zouma while sharing his preference between cats and dogs.
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During a conversation with Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel, the Portuguese tactician didn’t hesitate to take a jocular swipe at Zouma’s past controversy with his response.
Mourinho jokes about Zouma’s controversial past
When asked by Mikel whether he preferred cats or dogs, Mourinho quickly responded, “Dogs. But I don’t have any problems with cats. I’m not Kurt Zouma.”
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His remark referenced the infamous 2022 scandal in which Zouma and his brother were filmed abusing a cat, leading to an RSPCA investigation and the Frenchman being fined £250,000 by West Ham.
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18:29 - 17.02.2025
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Zouma later apologised, acknowledging his "big mistake", but he faced relentless taunting from opposition fans, some of whom even brought inflatable cats to matches.
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Now playing in the Saudi Pro League, Zouma previously reflected on the fallout from the incident, admitting that it was a difficult time for him and his family, but insisted he had moved on.
Mourinho’s emotional bond with his late dog
Mourinho has never hidden his affection for dogs, and his deep connection to his Yorkshire Terrier, Leya, made headlines multiple times.
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In 2019, while managing Tottenham, he revealed that his Christmas had been saddened by Leya’s passing, calling the dog "family."
However, Leya had already been involved in a dramatic episode in 2007 when Mourinho was arrested over a dispute with authorities regarding the dog's vaccinations.
Mourinho refused to let officials quarantine his pet, leading to an altercation that ended with a police caution.