Jose Mourinho appears to have obtained a peace offering from his Italian colleagues when they voted him best coach of the past season in the annual Golden Bench contest, DPA reported.
"Peace with Mourinho," titled la Repubblica on Tuesday after 11 out of 29 colleagues chose the current Real Madrid coach ahead of other likely candidates Luigi Delneri - at Sampdoria in the past season - and Roma's Claudio Ranieri.
The award seemed certain for the former Inter Milan coach after he won the Italian title and cup before lifting the Champions League in a memorable season for the Nerazzurri.
Despite his achievements on the pitch, however, his frequent altercations with colleagues and journalists, plus the bitterness against Italian football in general counted against him.
The Portuguese coach did not receive the prize in 2010, after his first season and a Serie A title at Inter, and seemed to be disappointed when Massimiliano Allegri was chosen - Allegri was at underdogs Cagliari before moving on to AC Milan this season.
Mourinho was not present Monday at the event in Florence, where he received praise from Ranieri, a colleague Mourinho had earlier described as "an old man, who has not learnt a word of English in his many years in England (at Chelsea)."
"A much deserved prize and I too voted for Mourinho," Ranieri said. "Last year he did not win, it is true. However, winning the title with Inter is not a certainty, but it is easy. Clinching the treble as he did last year is quite an achievement."
Others seem to have not forgotten Mourinho's often overbearing style.
"I did not vote for him," Palermo coach Delio Rossi said, "but who wins is always right."
Cesare Prandelli, the selector of the Italian national team who won the award twice while at underdogs Fiorentina, had a touch of irony towards the winner.
"The Golden Bench to Mourinho was very fair and predictable," Prandelli said. "So predictable that I voted for (Luciano) Spalletti (at Russian side Zenit since 2009)."
Mourinho is Italian Coach of the Year after last season's success
Jose Mourinho appears to have obtained a peace offering from his Italian colleagues when they voted him best coach of the past season in the annual Golden Bench contest.
