Andre Villas Boas has hailed Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho as an inspiration to Portuguese coaches.

Villas-Boas got his coaching break in his 20's as an assistant to Mourinho at Porto. He then spent time with his mentor at Chelsea and Porto before becoming a head coach.

Now with Marseille after spells with Chelsea, Zenit, Spurs and Shanghai SIPG, Villas Boas has paid tribute to Mourinho and Benfica legend Artur Jorge.

"Our ability to adapt to different environments makes the difference, as well as our wisdom and study of the game, our ability to lead and communicate," the 42-year-old Marseille coach signalled in an interview with Canal 11.

"It is undeniable that these doors were initially opened by Artur Jorge and José Mourinho, as the first great ambassadors of Portuguese coaches abroad and that allowed us to open doors in any market in the world.

"Of course, then you have to succeed and that's the brand that we guarantee, a little bit like what the Dutch coaches achieved a few years ago."