Manager

John Mousinho was appointed as the Portsmouth manager in January 2023 after the sacking of Danny Cowley. It is his first senior managerial position having retired from his playing career at Oxford United the same month.

Mousinho was a defender throughout his 18-year career as a player and played most prominently for Burton Albion, Oxford United, Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage among others. For the final two-and-a-half years at Oxford, the Londoner was a player-coach.

He hung up his boots at The Kassam Stadium and weeks later was handed the first-team manager role at Portsmouth on a ‘long-term contract’ with the club in EFL League One at the time.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho’s playing career

John Mousinho began his senior career with Brentford and made his debut in October 2005. He was then sent out on loan to three non-league clubs to gain experience and was promised his career at the Bees was not over yet.

He made a total of 71 games for Brentford before moving to his local team Wycombe Wanderers in 2008 after being transfer listed. Mousinho experienced one promotion and one relegation at the club before making a move to Stevenage.

It was at Broadhall Way where he made a huge impact. Mousinho scored the only goal of the game in the 2011 League Two Play-Off Final at Old Trafford as Stevenage beat Torquay United to earn promotion. Despite being a defender, he finished the season as the club’s joint top goalscorer with eight goals.

Preston North End would be his next club and was made club captain on his arrival in 2012. But things didn’t work out as planned under Simon Grayson and Mousinho, after a couple of loan spells, signed for Burton Albion in 2014.

He enjoyed a memorable time at the Pirelli Stadium Princess Way. Mousinho captained the club to the League Two title in his first season before earning back-to-back promotions the following season. He would then move to Oxford United and play 119 league games there before moving to Fratton Park as boss.

John Mousinho’s playing career

• Brentford (2005-2008)
• Woking, Slough Town, Yeading (2005-2006, loans)
• Wycombe Wanderers (2008-2010)
• Stevenage (2010-2012)
• Preston North End (2012-2014)
• Gillingham, Stevenage (2013-2014, loans)
• Burton Albion (2014-2017)
• Oxford United (2017-2023)

John Mousinho as Portsmouth manager

John Mousinho was appointed as Portsmouth boss in January 2023 on a ‘long-term contract’ after retiring from playing professionally. He was previously chairman of the PFA and Pompey chief executive noted the Londoner’s exceptional leadership and motivational skills as key factors in the hire.

Mousinho achieved a 2-0 victory over Exeter City in his first match as Portsmouth manager and would go on to finish the season with an 11-game unbeaten run. Pompey would secure 8th position in League One.

The young manager made an excellent start to the 2023/24 campaign as Portsmouth sought promotion to the EFL Championship. In September, Mousinho won the League One manager of the month award and Pompey are currently well on track to play in the second tier of English football for the first time since 2012.

John Mousinho’s coaching career

• Portsmouth (Head Coach, January 2023 – present)
• Oxford United (Player Coach, July 2021 – January 2023)