Mourinho aiming to equal Sir Alex Ferguson's record of seven semi-finals in the Champions League

Jose Mourinho will draw level with Sir Alex Ferguson on seven semi-final appearances in the Champions League if his Real Madrid side get past Galatasaray in their forthcoming last-eight tie.

Mourinho led Madrid to the last four of Europe's premier club competition in each of his first two seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, and his team will be big favourites to advance for a third time in a row. Real host Galatasaray on Wednesday before travelling to Istanbul for the return leg next Tuesday.

Mourinho left Chelsea shortly into the following season and did not return until the next campaign, when he agreed to coach Inter. His first season in Milan ended with a Serie A title, but disappointment in Europe as the Nerazzurri exited to Manchester United in the last 16. However, the Portuguese led the Italians to treble glory in 2009-10, as they claimed the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League - Inter's first success in Europe's premier club competition since 1965.

Mourinho, meanwhile, lost his last two semi-finals against Barcelona (in 2010-11) and Bayern Munich (last season). Either of those two teams could await in the last four this time around.

And should he have got that far, he will have equalled Ferguson's record for last-four appearances in the competition, having already overtaken a string of illustrious coaches. And given he is over 20 years younger than the Manchester United boss, Mourinho is probably just getting started.