John Mousinho's Inspiring Appointment: Reviving Hope and Glory at Fratton Park

At first glance, Portsmouth took a significant gamble when they hired John Mousinho as head coach in 2023, three weeks into the year. Prior to Mousinho, Danny Cowley was dismissed on January 2, while Kenny Jackett and Paul Cook had previously held the position. These three managers had extensive experience in various tiers of English football.

Mousinho, who had never managed a senior football game before, was still registered as a player at Oxford United. In fact, his final game as a player was an FA Cup first-round replay win against Woking, just 66 days ago.

Speaking to We on a mild October afternoon at the club's Hilsea training ground, Mousinho reflects on his appointment as the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for September and admits that the club's decision to hire him was unexpected.

After an almost nine-month stint in the position, his Pompey team, who narrowly missed out on a play-off spot last season by a margin of seven points, currently find themselves leading League One, ironically one point ahead of Oxford.

They are among just four teams across the top four divisions that have managed to preserve an undefeated beginning to the season, alongside Arsenal, Tottenham, and Mansfield Town. Remarkably, since March 11, they have yet to suffer a single defeat in any league match.

Why did CEO Andrew Cullen and sporting director Richard Hughes choose Mousinho, who is the third-youngest permanent manager in the EFL at 37 years old, as the result of their calculated risk?

"I have aspired to be a coach for a considerable period of time. During my time at Brentford, a few experienced professionals encouraged me to attend a coaching badges course, emphasizing its significance for my future career," he recalls.

"I found immense joy in the experience and have remained committed to this path ever since, progressing through my B Licence, A Licence, and most recently, achieving my Pro Licence."

During my time at Oxford, I had the fortunate opportunity to have Karl Robinson as my mentor. He allowed me to have firsthand experience in the daily responsibilities of a head coach, including recruitment, staff meetings, team selection, and managing both superiors and subordinates. Observing and immersing myself in these various aspects solidified my desire to pursue a similar role. Although I had never been in the hotseat making final decisions, I had gained extensive exposure to it and felt prepared to take on the challenge.

When his appointment was confirmed, Cullen praised Mousinho's "genuine leadership and motivational abilities" - qualities he had developed while captaining Preston, Burton, and Oxford. These skills are essential for any manager striving for success, and Mousinho confirms that he has effectively applied them throughout his transition from the field to the sidelines.

"It was an aspect I focused on during the early stages of my career – the ability to harness and excel in a unique dynamic. When engaged in the game of football, you are just one of eleven individuals, responsible for igniting the drive, captivating the spirits, and influencing the remaining ten teammates in order to achieve the desired outcomes," he adds.

When I didn't hold the position of captain at clubs, I dedicated significant attention to this aspect. It greatly contributed to my coaching philosophy, which revolves around motivating and inspiring others to exert maximum effort.

While you might have a well-defined playing style and flawless tactical knowledge, effectively translating your vision into action and persuading others to execute it is a challenging endeavor.

The physical demands at this level have significantly increased compared to when I first started playing. The players need to consistently perform at their best every week, which requires them to be motivated and inspired. Mousinho, who played less than a year ago, has a deep understanding of the mindset of a player, more so than many others. "The transition has been fascinating. It's an experience that no one can truly prepare you for," he explains.

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Mousinho started his career at Brentford in 2005

He has used that leg-up to his advantage.

I have strived to remember what it was like when I was a player. My lack of experience in game management was both an advantage and a disadvantage. However, my direct transition from the dressing room to my current role gave me firsthand knowledge of playing games in the league and balancing family life. My primary objective was to prioritize the needs of the players. If we can ensure that the players are content while playing football, we have already accomplished half of our goal.

"Every time I engage with the players, whether it's during a training session or when implementing tactical strategies, I make a conscious effort to adopt the mindset of a seasoned professional and consider how I would have perceived it. While it's important not to excessively cater to the players, I must acknowledge that our current group is exceptional - I haven't encountered any issues with them whatsoever."

John Mousinho's playing career

It should come as no surprise that this strategy is producing remarkable results. Mousinho goes as far as describing the atmosphere in the team as "ecstatic," which is not surprising considering their victorious streak of six consecutive wins in all competitions.

However, being a seasoned and skilled individual in the game, he understands the importance of being cautious. This understanding is shared by the devoted fans of Portsmouth as well. In the 2018/19 season, they held the top spot from September to January but unfortunately experienced a decline and were defeated by Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals. Similarly, in the 2020/21 season, they managed to secure a play-off spot for a large portion of the season but narrowly missed out on it on the final day.

After every victory, we strive to relish in our success while ensuring we maintain composure," states the composed Mousinho.

"It's crucial to strike a delicate equilibrium between savoring the triumphs, drawing inspiration from the team's accomplishments, and acknowledging that we must immediately refocus. Throughout September, in particular, we have faced back-to-back matches with no time for relaxation.

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Pompey's successful start to the League One season has seen them emerge victorious in eight out of their first 12 fixtures. Fortunately, the recent international break has provided the team with some much-needed respite. With the demanding schedule of 12 league games and an additional four cup matches within a short timeframe, the relentless nature of the season has kept them constantly alert and focused.

The job at Fratton Park is undoubtedly challenging, especially considering the fact that Pompey have been out of the Championship for ten years and the Premier League for thirteen and a half years.

Mousinho acknowledges the pressure, but he fully embraces it.

"When you first arrive in the city, at the training ground, or Fratton Park, you can sense the immense expectations. This was one of the main reasons why I took on this role; I won't shy away from it. It's not about settling for mediocrity at this level because the fans will make their opinions known very swiftly, and that's perfectly alright with me.

We have all acknowledged and internalized this objective during our discussions with CEO Andy Cullen and sporting director Rich. Our collective understanding is focused on achieving our goals in a timely manner, while also prioritizing the correct approach.

Towards the end of the previous season, there was some criticism due to our failure to qualify for the play-offs. However, this only strengthened our determination to strive for success this year, with the aim of being competitive at the upper echelons of the league.

Ever wonder what it feels like to be the one who elevates this dormant force back to its former glory?

Having that kind of inspiration can drive you to work hard, but currently, we are solely focused on taking one game at a time. Every single match in this league has been exceptionally challenging for us, and it's not just a saying that we casually state.

We haven't had any straightforward games this year, and our opponents are always prepared to surprise us. The upcoming match against Carlisle will be another demanding one. It is essential to approach each game as it comes, but it is also valuable to keep the ultimate motivation in the back of your mind.