Victor Boniface Recalls Icy Encounter withJosé Mourinho Before Roma’s 6-1 Humiliation

Nigerian forward Victor Boniface has revealed an amusing exchange he once had with legendary coach José Mourinho, just before one of the most shocking defeats in the Portuguese manager’s career.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker, who previously played for Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, recalled how Mourinho reacted to the extreme weather conditions in the small Arctic city ahead of their famous UEFA Conference League clash on October 21, 2021.

That night, Bodø/Glimt handed AS Roma a stunning 6-1 thrashing — a result that shook European football and humbled one of the most decorated coaches in the game.

Speaking on The CultureLeaguePodcast, Boniface said:

“I played in Norway, one of the coldest countries in the world. I played for Bodø/Glimt, the city is too small… it’s surrounded by sea. It is freezing.
Mourinho came to the pitch, walked inside, took his phone, recorded everything and posted: ‘This is the situation, we’re about to play, very cold.’
He posted it. I commented on that same post because I didn’t know I’d be at this level today. I said to him, ‘You never see anything.’”

Unfortunately, Boniface missed the famous match due to a cruciate ligament injury, but his club went on to write history without him on the pitch.

Opinion:
This story highlights the charm of football beyond the goals and trophies — those little moments where stars and legends cross paths in unexpected ways. For Boniface, a young Nigerian forward at the time, joking with Mourinho on social media was probably just banter. Yet, fast forward a few years, and he’s now rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite at Bayer Leverkusen.

It also reminds us of how football humbles everyone. Mourinho, a man who has lifted Champions League titles and conquered Europe, was caught off guard by a small Arctic club in Norway. On the flip side, Boniface — who might have seemed like just another young player then — is now one of the most exciting attacking talents in Germany.

In many ways, the story is symbolic: football has no permanent giants or minnows. The cold night in Bodø didn’t just freeze Mourinho’s Roma; it carved memories for players like Boniface, who can now smile at how far he’s come.

And perhaps the lesson here is this: in football, every comment, every game, and every encounter can become part of a bigger story — one you’ll only understand years later when destiny puts you on a much larger stage.