Harry Kane has opened up about the influence José Mourinho had on his career at Tottenham while warning that Real Madrid will be even harder to face in the Champions League with Mourinho back in charge.
Kane spoke warmly about his former manager in an interview with Spanish newspaper MARCA, describing their relationship at Tottenham as a strong one despite Mourinho being dismissed shortly before the 2021 League Cup final.
Mourinho Gave Kane More Freedom
The Harry Kane Mourinho relationship was built around more than goals. Kane said Mourinho gave him greater freedom to drop deep and influence games outside the penalty area, a role that helped him produce one of the most productive seasons of his career.
Under Mourinho, Kane finished the 2020/21 Premier League season with 23 goals and 14 assists, winning the Golden Boot and becoming the league’s leading assist provider.
That freedom allowed Kane to combine his finishing ability with his passing and link-up play, something that has remained an important part of his game at Bayern.
The striker’s development has continued in Germany. Bayern say Kane scored 61 goals across all competitions in the 2025/26 season and has become increasingly influential as both a scorer and creator.
Kane Saw the Mourinho-Bellingham Connection Coming
One of the more interesting parts of Kane’s interview involved Jude Bellingham. Kane said he spoke with his England teammate about Mourinho during the World Cup and told Bellingham that the midfielder and the Portuguese coach would work well together.
That prediction has quickly become reality at Real Madrid. Mourinho returned to the Spanish club for a second spell this summer, while Bellingham has made a strong start to the season. Kane said the two appeared to have developed a good relationship, something he believes is also positive for England.
Why Bayern Are Watching Mourinho Closely
Kane’s warning about the Bayern Munich Real Madrid clash is based partly on his own experience with Mourinho.
He believes Real Madrid already have some of the world’s best players and that Mourinho will know how to get the most from them. UEFA has confirmed that Mourinho has returned to Madrid for his second spell and will lead the club in another Champions League campaign.
Kane also knows what it feels like to lose a major European final in Madrid. Tottenham lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final at the Metropolitano Stadium, a memory he hopes to rewrite by finally winning the competition with Bayern.
The timing makes the story more interesting. Kane is now at a club capable of challenging for the trophy, while Mourinho is back at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
A Different Champions League Battle
Bayern and Real Madrid already have plenty of recent history. Kane noted that Bayern eliminated Madrid last season after a difficult quarter-final contest, but he expects the Spanish side to present a different challenge under Mourinho.
For Kane, the Mourinho Real Madrid Champions League era is not simply about a famous coach returning to a former club. It could directly affect Bayern’s path to European success.
And Kane’s personal connection makes the matchup even more unusual. The striker knows Mourinho’s methods, understands Bellingham’s game and has already experienced the disappointment of losing a Champions League final in Madrid. Now he gets another chance to change that story.
