🎥 José Mourinho sings old foe Arsène Wenger's praises | OneFootball

It seems José Mourinho must be going a bit soft in his old age.

During his time at Chelsea and Manchester United, Mourinho regularly clashed with former Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger.

The Portuguese once infamously labelled Wenger a “specialist in failure” and there was of course that time when the two managers practically came to blows on the Stamford Bridge touchline.

But with both men currently watching the football world roll by from the sidelines, it seems old José is finally ready to bury the hatchet.

Speaking via a video message as Wenger received a Lifetime Achievement award at Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday, the ‘Special One’ insisted he always had “real respect” for his former foe.

“There were some episodes along the road. I can only speak by myself. I really enjoyed the competition. But the real respect was always there,” said Mourinho.

“He made lots of history in that football club. The nickname is there – the Invincibles. Amazing. A coaching philosophy, the almost perfect team.

“He is one of the best managers in the history of football.”

Isn’t that nice?

And Mr Wenger appeared to be both touched and surprised by Mourinho’s kind words.

“It was a bit of a surprise. We had some good fights!” joked the Frenchman.

“Time appeases it always. The surprise that I got rewarded was even bigger because usually Lifetime Achievement is for Pelé, Maradona or Beckenbauer and tonight it’s a little player from a village!”

“But I represent coaches and it’s good as well that coaches are rewarded in our game.”

Wenger has been out of the game since leaving Arsenal at the end of last season and the 69-year-old says he may not ever return to management.

“My future is unknown. Even for me,” he said.

“I enjoy daily life now and I have been travelling a lot recently all over the world.”