John Mousinho isn’t going anywhere—and he’s made it crystal clear that Portsmouth’s ambition matches his own.
Fresh off securing Championship safety with two games to spare, the 38-year-old head coach is riding a tidal wave of momentum and growing reputation at Fratton Park. In just his first full season in charge, he led Pompey to the League One title, and now he’s plotting how to turn survival into something far more exciting.
In an exclusive with The News, Mousinho reaffirmed his belief in the club’s long-term vision—and made it clear he’s fully committed to taking Pompey even higher.
“My ambition certainly is to earn the right to be a manager in the Championship — and to do that not just for one season, but to build on that consistently.”
Mousinho’s appointment in January 2023 wasn’t greeted with universal applause. Fans questioned his lack of experience, but since then, he’s done more than silence doubters—he’s become one of the Championship’s standout young bosses.
“When I joined the club two-and-a-half years ago, the noise was this is a long-term appointment and the club have been completely true to their word on that.”
Portsmouth Backing Their Man
Unlike 14 other Championship clubs that changed managers this season—including eight who finished below Pompey—the Blues stood by Mousinho during their rocky spells. Even when they briefly dropped to the foot of the table during autumn, the Tornante Group kept the faith.
“Bearing in mind the eight clubs below us have all sacked their managers, Pompey have stuck by their belief of a long-term appointment — and I am very excited about what we do as a partnership in the future.”
Spending Smart, Not Flashy
Mousinho knows Portsmouth won’t suddenly be throwing Premier League money around, but he’s not expecting that. What he is demanding—and receiving—is intent.
“We are probably going to be similar to where we are this year in terms of ranking. But we are going to spend more money and we are going to go again.”
He praised the owners’ willingness to invest in January—a rare move for Pompey—and highlighted the strength of their aligned strategy, even if the worst-case scenario of relegation had happened.
“Even a couple of weeks ago, we spoke to the owners and were confident of staying up. If we went down the strategy would be the same… That is very, very important to me.”
“I Love Being Here”
It’s not just ambition keeping Mousinho at Portsmouth—it’s the feel of the place. The fans, the city, and the atmosphere have left a mark.
“I genuinely love being here. No disrespect to other football clubs, there are very few that match this in terms of fans and passion… It’s fun.”
With the 2025-26 season now firmly on the horizon, Portsmouth can look ahead with optimism—and for the first time in a long while, stability. In a league of trigger-happy boards, Pompey’s long-term vision under Mousinho is already paying dividends.
And the journey may be just getting started.
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