Mourinho, with his decisive leadership style and disregard for criticism, led a star-studded team and made bold tactical decisions that turned the historic final against Barcelona in favor of Real Madrid.

Mourinho believed that managing big stars was the key to a coach’s success. In the Netflix documentary ‘The Coach’s Notebook,’ he says: “If you can’t lead the stars, you can’t lead anyone.”

This philosophy was evident in the 2011 Copa del Rey final at the Mestalla Stadium against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Barcelona fielded a lineup featuring Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, and Villa, while Mourinho relied on Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Özil, Di María, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The key to Real Madrid’s victory was Mourinho’s unexpected decision to deploy Cristiano Ronaldo as a central striker. Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid in 2009, was an undisputed star, but Mourinho believed he needed to be positioned more effectively.

He explained in the documentary: “If Ronaldo played on the wing against Dani Alves, he would have to defend constantly. I told him to stay central and score goals.” This tactical change paid off.

In the 103rd minute of extra time, Ronaldo scored a stunning header to break the deadlock, securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid. This goal not only marked Ronaldo’s first trophy with Real but also began his glorious era with the club, where he went on to win 15 more titles, including four Champions Leagues and two more Copa del Rey trophies.

Mourinho’s precise understanding of the game’s demands allowed him to overcome Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona. By reshuffling his lineup and targeting the opponent’s weaknesses, he demonstrated how a coach’s courage and strategy can change the fate of a final.

After this success, Real Madrid reached the Copa del Rey final again in 2013, 2014, and 2023. In 2014, they defeated Barcelona 2-1, and in 2023, under Carlo Ancelotti, they overcame Osasuna. However, the 2011 final remains one of the most memorable moments in Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey history, thanks to Mourinho’s decisive role and Ronaldo’s brilliance.