Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thai national team, shared one of the most valuable experiences of his coaching career when he was invited by José Mourinho to observe his exclusive work at Real Madrid in 2013.
On 2 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Anthony Hudson revealed a special story from his coaching journey on the program "Clear Rim Sen" on Thairath Sport. He recalled the period in 2013 when the legendary coach José Mourinho, known as "The Special One," invited him to observe Real Madrid's internal operations exclusively for a full week.
At that time, Hudson was head coach of Bahrain's U23 national team and received key advice from Harry Redknapp, then managing Tottenham Hotspur. Having worked together previously, Redknapp introduced Hudson to Mourinho, describing him as a young, passionate, and determined coach, which led to Hudson having a private conversation with Mourinho.
Hudson recounted that he was planning to study football across various countries in England and Europe when Mourinho invited him to closely observe Real Madrid's training sessions, one of the world's top football hubs at that time.
"I had plans to travel widely to learn about football in England, then continued expanding my knowledge across Europe until I met José Mourinho at Real Madrid," he said.
"Of course, as a new coach, I felt eager to learn, to strive, and to find the best for myself."
Additionally, the War Elephants coach shared his impressions from a 2013 interview with Sport360, saying Mourinho gave him far more than he had expected.
At that time, Hudson said,
"Mourinho took time to give coaching advice, answered questions, and provided support. But what impressed me most was his approach and how he managed the enormous pressure surrounding Madrid."
Hudson added,
"That he kept his word, invited me during such a sensitive period, communicated excellently, and generously gave advice reflects who Mourinho is, further confirming his greatness."
Ultimately, Hudson admitted that his already strong admiration for Mourinho grew even deeper after experiencing his true character.