Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was in jail the week before the 2007 FA Cup final against Manchester United... because he wouldn't let the police take his dog away 

  • Jose Mourinho told Gary Lineker about being arrested in 2007
  • The Chelsea manager refused to allow officers to take his dog after they believed it had been illegally flown on a private plane
  • Mourinho was put in prison for obstruction of justice
  • But he made it to the Cup final where his team beat Chelsea 
  • READ MORE: Our review of Gary Lineker On the Road to FA Cup Glory 

Jose Mourinho is usually meticulous with his preparation, particularly when there is a trophy at stake. 

But the Chelsea manager went into his first Wembley Cup final in 2007 after a less than perfect week - after spending time in jail because of issues with his dog.

Mourinho, who recounted the story to Gary Lineker on his BBC Documentary The Road to FA Cup Glory, explained how he was arrested for preventing police officers from taking his animal away.  

Jose Mourinho lifts the FA Cup after winning it in 2007, but he was in jail the week of the final

Jose Mourinho lifts the FA Cup after winning it in 2007, but he was in jail the week of the final

The Chelsea manager joked about the incident with Gary Lineker in a documentary about the FA Cup

The Chelsea manager joked about the incident with Gary Lineker in a documentary about the FA Cup

'I won the FA Cup but it was a complicated week for me because I was in jail because of my dog,' said Mourinho.


'It's an odd story, the vet thought I was taking the dog from Portugal in a private plane and without the legal situation.

'They sent the police to my house to take the dog, but I didn't let them take the dog. So, because they didn't take the dog they took me for obstruction to justice.

'It was a difficult week - I was in that final but my family was not there because they had to stay in Portugal with the dog, for the dog not to go to jail.'

However, the less than perfect preparation didn't seem to adversely affect Mourinho, with his Chelsea side beating Manchester United 1-0 after extra time.

Mourinho explained that he was arrested because he would not let police seize his dog

Mourinho explained that he was arrested because he would not let police seize his dog

Didier Drogba scored Chelsea's extra-time winner as Mourinho's side beat Manchester United at Wembley

Didier Drogba scored Chelsea's extra-time winner as Mourinho's side beat Manchester United at Wembley

WATCH GARY LINEKER ON THE ROAD TO FA CUP GLORY ON iPLAYER