Mourinho takes a tumble at Russian ice hockey game

He was helped up by SKA captain Pavel Datsyuk, a Russian national team player and twice Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings in North America’s National Hockey League (NHL).

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho took a nasty tumble at an ice hockey game outside Moscow on Monday, drawing gasps and laughs after performing a ceremonial puck drop.

Portuguese soccer manager Jose Mourinho falls down, as ice hockey players Evgeny Medvedev and Pavel Datsyuk stand nearby (REUTERS)

Mourinho, who was sacked by United in December, made the first puck drop of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) game between Avangard Omsk and SKA Petersburg, two of the league’s best teams, at an arena in Balashikha.

Yet as he walked off the ice to the theme song of the “Rocky” movie series, Mourinho tripped on a red carpet and fell backwards, sparking gasps from the crowd.

He was helped up by SKA captain Pavel Datsyuk, a Russian national team player and twice Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings in North America’s National Hockey League (NHL).

Avangard Omsk wrote on their Instagram page that Mourinho, 56, had not sustained any injuries in the fall.

“Everything is fine with the coach,” the team said. “He is already back on the plane.”