José Mourinho hired as UN Ambassador Against Hunger: ‘I am not going to be a man of press conferences’

The Chelsea football manager adds a new role to his repertoire

Jose Mourinho at a press conference announcing his UN role in London

Jose Mourinho has been appointed Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations Wood Food Programme (WFP).

The Portuguese Chelsea manager will visit Africa this summer to lend his support to the campaign, which aims to eliminate world hunger.

"Supporting the work of the World Food Programme on the frontlines of hunger is a personal decision about a cause that is very close to the hearts of me and my family," said Mourinho.

"I have a big passion for football but I have a big passion for everything I do. If I don't have it, I don't do it, it's simple. So to accept this opportunity I do it not just with pride but also with passion."

Mourinho was dubbed “The Special One” by the media after a comment he made in 2004.

He said: "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one."

 

Any scepticisms about how hands-on the football manager will be in his new role should be cast aside, as Mourinho outlines his UN plans. Current high-profile WFP ambassadors include Christina Aguilera and Drew Barrymore.

"I am going immediately where the problems are, where the kids with hunger are," he said.

"I am not going to be a man of press conferences; I want to be a man of the field. During my holiday period I am going to Africa and I hope I do my part well."

The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting against hunger, last year supplying food to 97million people in 80 countries. Mourinho described himself as a "naïve manager getting a job for the first time".

"Football also has numbers difficult to accept, when we speak about our salaries, transfer fees, club budgets, I understand that," he said.

"But I also believe in football because football in many, many, many cases shows solidarity. It is not the first or last time that football is supporting human causes."