Jose Mourinho, one of football’s most decorated managers, is not one to easily hand out compliments.

Yet, the former AS Roma boss recently broke character to hail the ex-Nigerian international David Okereke for an extraordinary feat that has left even Mourinho himself in shock, Footballrover reports.

The achievement? A rare record spanning three leagues and three teams, one that highlights Okereke’s knack for delivering on special days and against the ‘Special One.’

After a recent Turkish Super Lig clash, the legendary coach made an exception for former Nigerian youth star David Okereke, lauding his unique achievement of scoring against three of Mourinho’s teams.

The 26-year-old striker, currently on loan at Gaziantep FK from Italian club Cremonese, has carved his name into Mourinho’s personal record books.

In an interview after Gaziantep’s 3-1 loss to Fenerbahçe, Mourinho acknowledged Okereke’s feat.

A unique record against a legendary coach

Okereke’s record spans different leagues, beginning in Serie A, where he netted against AS Roma while at Venezia.

He repeated the feat with Cremonese, finding the back of the net once more against Mourinho’s Roma.

His most recent accomplishment came in Turkey, scoring for Gaziantep FK in a spirited performance against Fenerbahçe.

Despite Gaziantep FK’s struggles this season—they currently sit 13th on the Turkish Super Lig table—Okereke has been a standout performer.

In eight appearances, the Nigerian forward has registered three goals and an assist for the team.

In his performance against Fenerbahçe, the Nigerian forward briefly restored parity for his team before the hosts regained control.

Though Gaziantep ultimately fell short, Okereke’s contributions were enough to draw Mourinho’s admiration—a rare honour for any player.

“I also congratulate David Okereke. He is the first player to score against all three teams that I have managed. He scored against my teams while playing for Venezia, Cremonese, and Gaziantep FK,” Mourinho said as quoted by Trtspor.

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