If José Mourinho’s football had been as dramatic and exciting as the manner of
his departure, he would still be manager of Chelsea this morning.
That was Mourinho’s great irony. In person, he was challenging, entertaining,
fiery, passionate, bold, outspoken, a man who would say the unsayable and
not think twice about it, who could turn the cut and thrust of question and
answer into a verbal battleground, explosions and casualties everywhere.
Had he taken that charisma on to the football pitch, he would have had a job
for life spending the money of Roman Abramovich. Yet something happened to
Mourinho when he took his personality into the sporting arena. He became
another person: cautious, pragmatic, conservative. He talked like the last
gunslinger in town and sent his team out with all the abandon of a junior
accountant, Swindon branch.
Last night, in a flurry of text messages, he said goodbye to his senior
players and was gone, a typically theatrical gesture leaving mysteries over
whether he fell or was pushed, or whether in classic Mourinho fashion he
made an incendiary statement from which there was no way back. Sadly, the
manner of his departure sums up the malaise that has affected Stamford
Bridge for far too long. For almost a year, the most exciting thing about
Chelsea has been what Mourinho will do next.
In all truthfulness, this parting could have happened on any night this year.
The worst-kept secret in football has been the deterioration of the
relationship between manager and owner.
Abramovich’s demands are simple. He wants his players to win every trophy in
sight, while balancing the ball on their noses like sea lions. He does not
just want champions. He wants champions who entertain, who thrill and
exhilarate in the manner of Arsène Wenger’s unbeaten Arsenal. He picked the
wrong manager, then.
Mourinho was never going to be that guy. He built an excellent FC Porto team
on the ethos of hard graft, good organisation and no stars. He had stars at
Chelsea, but they were stars he had created, such as John Terry and Frank
Lampard, players who grew in stature under his guidance. When he was given
other famous names, such as Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, his
discomfort was obvious. There was only one marquee name required as Stamford
Bridge, and it was his. The star was his philosophy, the methods and game
plan he set out before the season began and rigidly adhered to throughout
the campaign.
Terry said that Mourinho did all his work in three weeks of pre-season,
telling the players that they must memorise the strategies now because there
would be no time for revision when the matches were coming thick and fast.
Anyone who forgot, Terry said, was out. This made for a fantastically
disciplined team; it made for a Chelsea team who won back-to-back titles
and, on their day, were a Terminator-like force, relentlessly moving through
the Premier League; but it did not make for the fantasy that Abramovich
demanded. Chelsea crushed opposition like Soviet tanks rolling into
Budapest. Abramovich is from a different age of Russia’s revolution.
The two highlights of Mourinho’s time at Chelsea are the 3-0 win over
Manchester United to clinch the title in 2006 and the win over Barcelona at
Stamford Bridge when Terry’s sheer determination overrode one of the goals
of the season from Ronaldinho.
What will never be understood about Mourinho’s reign is why he could not trust
his players to perform like that more often. On the day that Chelsea
defeated United it looked as if they had turned a corner. Ricardo Carvalho
broke forward from defence to score a stunning goal, the football was
technically superior, high-tempo, combining the best of all worlds. Yet by
the next season, even with Shevchenko and Ballack on the books, Mourinho had
reverted to familiar inhibition and victory by degrees.
The casualties of his thinking are invariably the flair players. Joe Cole has
never been able to relax with Mourinho in charge; Arjen Robben, one of the
best wingers in the world, was sold to Real Madrid. It has taken Shaun
Wright-Phillips almost two years to graduate to a place in the first team.
Yet, at the World Cup finals in 2006, Chelsea players let off the leash
frequently stole the show. Joe Cole was England’s best midfield player,
Robben a revelation, Michael Essien a powerhouse attacking midfield player
for Ghana. If the question occurred to the rest of the world, it must have
occurred to Abramovich, too: what does Mourinho demand of these players that
he makes them dull?
It left Mourinho vulnerable, as he has been for almost a year. Conservative
winning football was just about bearable in Abramovich’s eyes; conservative
losing football, of the type played by Chelsea last season and at the start
of this, was unforgivable. Clearly, if Chelsea are to lose to Aston Villa or
draw at home to Rosenberg, Abramovich wants them to go down giving the best
show in town. It was never going to be a happy marriage: the manager who
wanted to win ugly and the owner who would risk losing beautifully.
They will be better apart than together. Mourinho will be a great manager at a
club where nobody is putting unrealistic demands on the day-to-day grind of
winning a competition as strength-sapping as a big European League
(particularly, in this case, the Barclays Premier League), while Abramovich
will get a manager who will be under no illusions about the fantastic nature
of what is expected.
In the end, Abramovich was not prepared to give Mourinho the autonomy he
demanded and Mourinho was not prepared to compromise his blueprint for
success. The amazing thing is that it lasted so long. Michael Jackson’s
nuptials had more chance.
Best of the web
“Enough is enough — it’s time to sack Mourinho.”
chelseafc.com
“This miserable misfit Mourinho will not be missed. He should return to
Portugal, where they like grapes — even sour ones.”
bbc.co.uk/606
“Time is running out for Mourinho. Abramovich wants more style for his money
and he won’t get that with Mourinho.”
chelseafc.com
“Bill Shankly worked miracles with his Liverpool players by convincing them
they were world-beaters. Mourinho has decided to do the opposite, convincing
his players that they are second and third-rate ‘eggs’ who are only in the
side because his regulars are injured.”
bbc.co.uk/606
“Is José capable of rebuilding a team like Fergie and Wenger have done? I
think it’s a fair question to ask. All truly great managers have done it,
but he hasn’t yet had to.”
chelseafc.com
Over the last four EPL seasons, Chelsea have averaged 3.022 goals for every goal scored against them. Arsenal have only managed 2.273, Manchester United 2.270, and Liverpool 1.797. During that period, Chelsea have won two premiership titles, and finished second each of the other two years. That's entertaining enough for me!
Barrie Collins, Long Sault, Ontario, Canada
jose morinho is a professor of foot ball, he can to premiership, he saw and he conquered. morinho, i salute u, ibrahomovic if proper care is not taken u will regret ur actions on morinho
uyi, benin, nigeria
Yeah - you're a smart one Lex. If you want to see what Jose Mourinho can do without money take a look at the Porto FC team that he won a domestic title and the Champion's Cup with before he came to Chelsea. Anyway - if you are right then Chelsea should continue to average two trophies a season under this nobody of a manager that Abramovich has now appointed. Martin Samuel is wrong also. Cole and Robben didn't play much under Mourinho because they were injured most of the time. Mourinho was demonstrably correct in making Wright-Phillips wait to mature before giving him the first team place. Essien's place has never been in doubt and he has been terrific under Mourinho. This article is contrived nonsense - under Mourinho Chelsea have been as exciting as anyone else in the premiership - or wasn't the Times' Chief Football Correspondent watching at the start of this season?
Gabriel Casey, Belfast,
Watching Drogba wasn't exactly boring last season. He got turned from "potential" into one of the world's best strikers. How many amazing goals did he score last season, pretty much as a lone striker?
Getting rid of Mourinho has released a lot of pressure on Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal.
It always seemed like those three would have to play to their absolute maximum every game to beat Chelsea.
Dreadside Nubune, Pliddingsbury, England
You know Chelsea managers have had a pretty difficult time of it over the years. There was Gullit who got the boot when he had got us into the Semis of the Cup Winners Cup, the FA cup and well placed in the league...Vialli then went on to take the spoils. Ranieri got us to 2nd to Arsenal in the league, semis of the Champions League, knocking out the un-beatable Arsenal, Jimmy FH was inches away from getting us to the final. Roman boots him out. Now this. Chelsea are starting to act like Real and we know where that has got them for the last few years. What will it be next? We win the league and the next guy gets the sack.
I agree Chelsea have been 'tepid' at best this season but it is still pretty early. What really worries me is this guy Grant. He will lose the dressing room and then we will be left with a bunch of overpaid European has beens. A sad day for the blues. I will never forget the time when we won back to back titles. Cheers Jose.
Chris Coombes, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Steve is spot on. I've been a Chelsea fan for 42 years and have watched The Blues playing teams off the park week in week out and getting beat. Jose bought the one thing that we've never had before - consistency. He is the best manager in the world and has been replaced by Roman's "Yes Man". Who'll be picking the team now?
God help us and it's back to the musical joke if they're not careful.
John Foley, Pattaya, Thailand
I am caught in two minds over this. Jose certainly and personally added a lot excitement to the PL. It will be a lot less entertaining post match.
He put many of the media, justifiably in their place.
And he did win trophies for Chelsea.
The previuos Chelsea teams played some marvelous and exciting football and rarely won trophies, the league in particular.
Now I don't see Chelsea winning either the PL or CL this year and may lose key players like Terry who were devoted to Jose.
Paul, Toronto, Canada
I may not be an expert, but as a regular viewer of chelsea matches i think Mr Jose Mourinho is one of the finest managers of chelsea. He won them the EPL title two consecutive times. Chelsea had some bad times, but that doesn't prove Mr Mourinho unworthy to b their manager.
Ishtiak, Dhaka, Bangladesh
I think Mourino is simply wonderful. Yes he's egotistical and arrogant but isn't that the basis of football? He got good results and more importantly a great atmosphere amongst his team members and fans. And at least he stood up to the one at the hierarchy and didn't let himself be undermined or bullied. Good play. I for one hope he comes back to Portugal and manages a team here.
Lindsey, grandola, Portugal
Thanks, Mourinho you did a great job. I'm not sure Chelsea will ever be champ again. All the Best
Phill, London,
Mourinho's next step? A man who calls himself he chosen one does not belong at a top club. He should apply himself in miracles in taking lower level clubs to higher glory. Perhaps restoring the fortunes of a glorious club that has fallen on harder times. Say Aberdeen, or Leeds United?
In this way he could better prove his mission. At top clubs there will always those who would attribute success to the money. So he can learn this lesson of Chelsea and move on to stake his rightful place at he head of the table of sainted managers.
He must have made enough money to be able to lead a consortium in such a quest. C'mon Jose- put your money where your mouth is!!
Brian, Shannon, Ireland
CHELSKI ARE FINISHED !
As a die-hard ManU fan, I have to come out of the woodwork and condemn all u wannabee CHELSKI fans. In some 50 years since you won your first LEAGUE TITLE in 1955, you have had not a single "decent manager" who would be quaified to lace JOSE "THE SPECIAL ONE'S" trainers !
If you cockney's really knew and understood your football, you would be holding a major demostration outside "Stamford Bridge" at this very moment.
But you don't know your football, and thats obvious, the JOHN TERRY'S -LAMPARD'S -COLE'S -DROGBA'S and Czechs will all come and go, the "MANAGER" is the true "HEARTBEAT" of a quality football club, like our FERGUSON he has had to buy and sell, deal with players ego's whom he "made" into stars !
ROMAN is foremost a business man, who's immense capital in funds (how he came to it-is another story!) mean's he can rule his little KINGDOM as he please's, sadly for him, he as just kicked an own-goal!
michael fox, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Sadly, people and pundits are all to swift to discount the fact that he took a middling team and made them Giants..lets not forget thae he won 6 trophies in 3 years..quite a feat. There are a handful of managers out there who can do what Jose has done, and I am certain that he will come up spades, again, at his next club. Now Chelsea has the boss' boy in charge..what a waste.
Oh! why is Peter kenyon so quiet?
Varsi Padayachee, Poolesville, MD, USA
This is as sad a day as I can remember as a Chelsea fan. After the highlights of the first season under Mourhino, a season where he was employed and left to raise Chelsea to a standard of football the Bridge had never previously seen, a bitter taste has been left in the mouths of many Chelsea fans who do not understand why our Russian owner has not left possibly the best football manager in Europe today to do his job unhindered.
As Chelsea fans, we have never demanded superstar names in the starting XI but have been blessed with groups of players who demonstrate loyalty and passion, a rarity in today's game. The signings of Ballack and Shevchenko did give the squad sheet a more international ring but were the final nails in the coffin for both Mourhino and the current era of success at Chelsea.
However he left the club, jumped or pushed, it was becuase he was villified by Abramovich. This last episode in Chelsea's history is regrettable and has taken the shine off recent glory.
Nick Jones, Sheffield,
Mourinho is and will allways be a "Special One". As a coach and as a human beeing. Let's wait and see who can give Chelsea what Mourinho (and his players) gave in such a short time. He is a natural winner. Give him the respect he deserves. He is not the "miserable misfit" that someone called. Come back home José because Abramovich doesn't deserve you and come eat our sweet grapes, beacause the sour ones, we don't eat, we leave them for those who adored you before and now call you "misfit". Good luck to you Mr. Mourinho.
RoCo, Setubal, Portugal
No Premiership football is exciting and dramatic these days. It ha all been completely over-commercialised and ruined. I blame Peter Kenyon and his like - soulless and dull, just like the football has turned out to be.
John Barton, Reading, UK
All of this chatter is great, but attacking a problem is only as good as its solution. Even if getting rid of Mourinho was the correct move, I'm not convinced, Avram Grant is anything close to a solution. He is simply not a "first class Egg".
justin , New York, NY
It doesn't necessarily interest me that Abramovich has sacked Mourinho, or that Mourinho left the club. What I find more interesting is that Chelsea fans have so little autonomy to disagree with the decision. As Abramovich so dominates the team and the club with his finance; and so obviously turned the team from also rans to contenders Chelsea fans surely have become no more than blurred masses of compliant irrelevancies. They can't challenge the move, they can't protest, since they are utterly subservient to the man who not only own the team but perhaps even owns them. Financial serfdom indeed.
Robbo, Beijing, China
Only the future will tell if the sack of Mr Mourinho will be good for Chelsea or not. The fans should be thankfull for what he acomplished in such a short time. Don't be ungreatfull. Will Chealsea wait 50 more years to be champions again? We'll wait and see. Mr Abramovich bougth the coach but he didn't buy the man. Before he was great, now he is a "miserable misfit"? Shame on you. One more thing, the portuguese like grapes, yes, but the sour ones, we leave for those real "miserable misfits" that don't apreciate the good things that Mr Mourinho acomplihed with Chelsea. Go Chelsea, i'll still be your fan, because, men pass by, but the club still remains.
PMB, Coimbra, Portugal
No man is an island .Three years of systematic assault on his self-esteem by a predatory, highly prejudiced British media had to impact of his self-confidence. Mourinho, should already have left to sunnier climates in the wake of his initial successes in the greys. In Italy, Spain and indeed his native Portugal his talent would have been taken at face-value. The British media could never accept that a Portuguese could possibly be a winner. Well, he was. Chelsea will now return to its former ranks. They will never be the same charismatic force again. Next stop for The Special One? Hollywood!
Alberto, Lisbon, Portugal
No one can denied that Mourinho put Chelsea in the map of the world. Chelsea before Mourinho was simply a normal team in the Premiership and after the most powerfull and the team that everyone wants to beat. Premier league was use to see Manchester U., Arsenal and Liverpool winning year after year but this story changed when Mourinho arrived at the Stamford Bridge. Many people did not like it and I understand when Mourinho once said: only the people at Fulham Road and Setubal (city in Portugal where he comes from) like Chelsea. Surely the Premier League will become poorer without Mourinho and I am not sure if Chelsea will raise again!
Rui Ribeiro, Orebro, Sweden
I love football, I'm not a chelsea supporter, but Mourinho brought new life to football, he was passionate, enthusiastic, dedicated, its a pity other managers lack his passion . Mourinho will be missed, I hope he stays with a british club, watch this space - how will chelsea perform now he's gone!
JC, Uppingham, England
"the win over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge when Terry’s sheer determination overrode one of the goals of the season from Ronaldinho."
Remember that Carvalho had pinned Valdez to the floor, leaving Terry to head into an empty goal.
luke kelly, manchester, lancs
Whether you like him or you don't, the fact of the matter is that Mourinho is a fantastic manager, he has raised the bar of English football in a very short space of time. He has commanded the respect of his high profile players and won trophies for his club, what more could one ask more? His exit is a really bad move for the club and the players. I have a feeling that the rest of this season will be really tough for Chelsea FC. One would think that a man who has achieved so much in so little time would be given a little slack for
1.losing a few games at the START of the season. Fergie's been there, Wnger's been there.
2.for insisting on being the manager and selecting the players he thinks best fit his vision.
Are these unreasonable requests?
I congratulate Mourinho for a job well done in English football, he let his actions speak louder than his words!!
Michael Matambo, Cape Town, South Africa
Mourinho had as much money as he could ask for and still couldn't win 3 leagues in a row or the European cup. Over last season and the beginning of this one, the pressure has got to him and it showed in his rant about the offside. Chelsea's boring football has tarnished the premiership and it will be not a great shame to see Mourinho go. Bye Bye Jose, you will not be missed.
PS, would Jose consider the Tottenham job?
Mike, Manchester,
It is not humanely possible for a team to win every trophy it competes in. I think we've all forgotten the essence of football it's unpredictability.
Bami Sonubi, Bahrain, Bahrain
Chealsea should thanks Mourinho for all he has done for this local team that grew to be a world team. This is not the end of Mourinho's success, it is only the end of Chealsea's victories.
Dave, Cardiff, Wales
Jose Mourinho is undoubtedly the best manager in the world, proven by his ability to manage some of the best players on the planet with ease, due to his ability to earn the respect of those around him. The only person he could not earn respect from was Roman Abramovich, who said once that Chelsea was his toy. Perhaps instead of wanting to see flowing football he should have looked at the wider picture, that results are what REALLY matters. Being a Chelsea fan myself I am obviously dissappointed at the news and will be the first to wish the Special One the best of luck with his future career. At the same time i fear for Chelsea's future, as the next manager who comes to take the reigns will have a massive act to follow.
Would I have preferred to see Abramovich go instead of Mourinho? Lets just say I'd prefer to have my valuable shiny penny that brought us happiness than millions that brought us controversy, a clash of egos and eventually the end of Chelsea's Special Era.
Freddy Byrne, Salthill, Galway
Martin, you write so lucidly .Its a joy to read your account of Mourinho's exit.We will probably know soon enough whether it was a sacking.
John Marrett, Singapore,
Very simple! Jose did for Chelsea what no one has before, the way he is with football no one has been before, what he done with the former club FC Porto no one has done before, he has is own way of doing things, some right, some wrong, but don't we all, the guy is forever in the books of football and the only people that don't like him are the other teams and fans. For sure the rest of this season wont be the same, and Chelsea wont even going to win a trophy! Good luck Jose!
peter, London,
Jose Mourinho was good for Chelsea. Won them everything except the Champions league. And if Alex Ferguson is great for winning the CL once in donkey years, then Mourinho is a genius. Manchester United did not sack SAF when he finished bottom of a CL group in 2005. Wenger has not won for three years and Arsenal still keeps faith with him. So deciding on Mourinho after three poor performances is stupid. The premiership has lost one of the greatest managers of all time. I doubt now. if Chelsea will win anything this season
Keme, loughborough,
Mourinho is Chelsea, simple as that, I don't think any manager is going to turn chelsea into a powerhouse the way Mourinho has done. Mourinho will manage a new team and in the CL mourinho is not going to allow Chelsea to win the CL Roman wants so badly. Liverpool Supporter
Nolan, JHB, South Africa
Jose for Tottenham
Max the gunner, london,
You know to be good is not enough for Mourinho. To have the best manager in the world is not enough for Abramovich. Mourinho is the proud in person, he really does a great job in Chelsea, but the best that Mourinho can do is to leave a club that doesn't really deserve him and his class.
Mourinho go to another club and make your job like you always do, with competence, inteligence and hability... and you surely will recognize as the manager who makes football touching the perfection of the sky with the shine of the sun...
You'll be for ever the sun of managing football teams, your dreams and ambition are surely not the same ones of Abramovic & Co, because you are in fact a "Special One"... "The Special One"... And your work at Porto and at Chelsea only can make you the proudest man of the world.
Like your portuguese ancesters you rediscover the World... of football and managing football...
Thanks for all, we miss you in Porto and in National Team...
Nuno Simoes Virgilio, Lisbon, Portugal
Jose was quite simply the greatest Chelsea manager of all time. He was the personification of the club - arrogant, swagering, West-end attractive, successful but with the capability to fall from a great height at any moment. Chelsea has never been about consistent success, it's been a story of drama and bragging, occasionally reaching the heighest heights, at the cost of alienating all around.
The King is Dead. May we hope there are Chelsea managers in the future who come close to his style, oh yes, forget the lottery of the Champions League, just remember his back to back titles.
jon carney, london, uk
Give me 1 English manager that is more successful than Mourinho?
Actually, give me 1 manager that has won more than Mourinho?
Tubon, Manchester, UK
Too much is made of the value of attractive football. There is no substantive measure for attractiveness. Success is measured more readily and Platini was right this week when he said that football is about winning trophies. At the final reckoning, Mourinho went toe-to-toe with Wenger and Ferguson over a number of years and came away with the titles. Let's not forget that he disposed of United on his way to Champions League glory with Porto. He then made Chelsea the yardstick for English domestic success. Like it or not, he understood success and only time will tell if that consistency of success, albeit formulaic, is readily achievable by any other means.
Paul Taylor, London, United Kingdom
No more speech entertainment before crucial matches. That's the only thing he was good at.
Mark Anthony Deguara, Naxxar, Malta
Sir Alex Ferguson will be heralded as one of the greatest managers in history, and the glory reflects on his bosses. Chelsea supporters and Abramovich-alike have not had the patience to allow Mourinho the time to develop the long-term legacy he has initiated. He has only been there a few years, and look at what he has achieved. Abramovich would likewise have fired Ferguson in the dim times, and lost out on the overall brilliance that comes over time.
Simon Roche, Johannesburg, South Africa
Well will see now what is goig to do Abromovic without the SPECIAL ONE, for those that have e short memory, he was elected twice, just the best coach in the world, with is age, who else won it before??? And reminding that with 3rd class "eggs" in F.C. Porto, he won the UEFA Cup and the CL in a row, I wonder where else will Chelsea find a coach like him, to replace him and give them the European title!? Pitty for the Chelsea funs and for the British football because they wont have any one else like the... SPECIAL ONE and I'm sure they will miss him, even the press, as like nobody else, his press conferences were always the most atractive, due to his unique style!
Come on Porto!!!
MARIA , LISBON, PORTUGAL
Mourinho was a phenomenon in his 1st 2 seasons, and still produced trophies to the (bitter) end, however his ego increasingly became the star of the show (as lampooned on the Enfield/Whitehouse comedy show) - did this skew the mans psycho-dynamics and hence - 'potency'? Back to back titles is no mean feat, and he certainly had they technical nous to turn a game on its head. Romans meadling finally got the better of him in the end, it was inevitable he would spit the dummy and implode in such a way. As a Man U fan - I wish him all the best for the future. I'm not sure about the Jacko metaphor though (he did marry the Kings daughter long enough to consummate the marraige) - a bit sycophantic Martin = P lol
Glen Oglethorpe, Mossbay City, Cumbria
Abramovitch wants show in "his" matches, so he will sign a coutch for the team that gives show time, the team will play a underfull football, but do you know what?
Chelsea woun't win a thing anymore for a long time... Mourinho gives results and trophys, others gives shows... If i want show i go to the theatre.
Mourinho I sad for your lost...I will throw away my season ticket
John, Chelsea, Lodon
Will Chelsea win in the next 10 years, what they have won with Mourinho in the last 3 ? I do'nt think so.
Martin Correia, Dartmouth,
What does it matter?
I'm just fed up with you journalists milking every story for its scandal and intrigue value.
What you should be doing is to help encouraging interest in
the brave clubs (without disgustingly wealthy tycoon support)
to bring on our young native talent for for our future national sides.
David Bateman, Oundle, UK
Abramovich goes to the world cup, sees Ballack and Schevchenko and says, "I want them." How cool to be a "russian tycoon" and get exactly what you want. Well now he has exactly what he wants and if Essien leaves the I'd put money on the team that picks him up. Why does the premier league allow "russian tycoons" to spend in abandon? Doesn't all that money collect a certain "aroma?"
Trever Nolnoc, stockholm, Sweden
Try Foppe de Haan. Experienced coach, beautiful person, old but wise.
ad, Rijswijk, Holland
Sir, Giles Whittell rattles off the old secular argument about keeping religion out of politics (Thunderer 21/9) but he ought to consider that when William Lamb aka Lord Melbourne (1779-1848) said 'things have come to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade public life' he was talking about a certain young man by the name of William Wilberforce. The fact that slavery is held in disgust today is not society evolving a more noble character but a result of a faithful man's earnest belief that the bible is the most powerful force for good and that good policies ought to be founded on its principles.
P.Scurr, Northampton, England
The article title says it all; anymore is superflous; except for the Swindon branch detail. Mourinho's football was dire; period; good riddance I say. And long live Arsene: quite the opposite; dull man, fantastic football.
Oliver Sellen, Cambridge,
I think the fact that my Liverpool supporter 'friends' were actually quite happy that UTD won the league last season sums up Mourinho's reign. Football is meant to be artful inspiration, a sea of wonderfully vivid reds and yellows, not a new-wave block blue eye-sore which sadly for us all, is what Chelsea would have always been under JM.
Bob, Dalian, China (UTD fan!)
Robert Jenkinson, Dalian, China
Mourinho's Porto won UEFA and champions league with completely unknown players. On the way to be European Champion he defeated Manchester with a team costing less than %10 of Fergie's budget. He arrived at Chelsea and caught everybody with their pants down, and grabbing not one but two consecutive Premiership titles. He wants players that play for the team, not Shevchenko and Michael Ballack. Now he leaves a hot potato for the next manager. While Manchester got Nani and Anderson to add to Ronaldo and Roonie, Chelsea has no one to take the place of Carvalho or Terry or Lampard or Drogba. With the current team set to force mourinho out, Chelsea will not be able to compete with Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, or Manchester. Do you want to be that money will show up over X-mas to buy new players?
George, Plymouth,
I found Mourinho's style of football ugly. I watched the warmup between the Galaxy and Chelsea (Beckham's intro to the states game). Shevchenko played much of the game and was the best player on either side. It was smart play that drew 'oohs' from the american commentators yet they could not resolve the rumors coming from Chelsea that he was a bench warmer because he wasn't good enough. It's the style of play that is not good enough, good enough to display football as an intelligent sport akin to chess and not horses running around overpowering their opponent through speed and power.
marc, warren, USA/Michigan
Steve London
"As a Chels supporter home, away, europe I can tell you I was entertained every time we won. "
So if you watched a match which ended 0-0 you weren't entertained, but if Chelsea scored in the 89th minute and won 1-0 you were. That has nothing to do with being a true fan of football, it is about being a fan of your club and wanting them to win. This ridiculous idea that if you play entertaining football you lose, is not borne out by the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Man United. No one is saying you have to throw caution to the wind but you look to play in a style that entertains the supporters. True fans of football love the game but of course they don't want to see their team draw or lose, and given the choice a fan will pick winning an important game over entertainment. But when game after game there is no choice and if it is entertaining it's a bonus, someone who has put £500m into the club isn't going to be happy.
luke neave, london, England
The usual limitations about one's memory . To short it is...
He's 1st 2 yars of Chelsea were fantastic! The team football was also fantastic! And not only because it won the games! It was fun seeing the matches!!!!
And also... he WON! The goal of the game is to score more goals than the oponent... or receive less than the oponent... Mourinhos teams done them both!
That thing about him beeing the only star... no way!!!! His players were the stars!!!! He bring them to the starlight! They were the stars that played as a team, and so many times had the stars to do what they know!
Dear all, the best indicator is what the news are bringing to us:
- Chelsea's fans are sad about it
- The team players wan't to leave!
The rest... is diversion!
He will soon be managing another great team and he will soon be champion... Wait for it!
Luis, São Paulo, Brasil/SP
mourinho wasn't even as good as george graham. similar tactics - less conviction. the weird "fans" mourning his loss can't possibly be serious. he didn't win a single trophy for chelsea - abramovich did. without money mourinho would be a loud mouthed loser. it would be interesting if he were to manage tottenham next. with a middling budget we'd find out what he's really made of. i suspect he'd be sacked there as well.
his achievements were all in the pr department. the press were in love with him because he gave lots of stupid quotes out and a certain kind of woman wanted to sleep with him but
in the end - judged on football - the bloke was a massive bore. the arsenal team that played chelsea off the park in last years carling cup final was widely derided for losing - but it looks as if those arsenal players will go on to greater things. the chelsea team? dead. forgotten. a footnote. the tophies they won? bought by abramovich.
i'll miss the stupid quotes tho!
lex, london, england
Mourinho was very good value in his interviews with the press and on the telly. However, his Chelsea team played boring hoof-ball of the most turgid variety? Creativity and spontaneity? They were to be stamped out. Entertainment was abhorred, a methodical machine-like sameness preferred. Jose might be missed, but for the neutral his brand of football will not.
shorehamview, Sunny Sheffield,
If we're talking about efficiency, then there is no doubt that Mourinho is the man!! Claudio Ranieri, with a galactic team did nothing compared to what Mourinho achieved... The numbers speak for themselves. All the records broken by Mourinho with last forever, for now we'll be back to a premier league with Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool as the main players. Being arrogant or not, the fact is that he won respect from everyone. Moreover, plenty of people overseas started cheering for Chelsea due to Mourinho. From now on, it will just be seen as a money oriented club, with no significant charisma... It reminds me of Real Madrid, with all the Galacticos and countless coaches... the only difference is that Real has a great past behind supporting the club's mystic...
Luis, Barcelona, Spain
Now the world will see Chelsea the way it did before Mourinho: an average team that sold themselves cheap to achieve with money what they couldn't achieve throughout history. Let's face it: Chelsea has no charisma nor mystic in the football realm! And Mourinho at least brought them atitude and personality... Now I am pretty sure that a lot of people won't even bother to watch Chelsea's matches, being the team relegated to the secondary scenario... Back to the Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool times...
Luis, Barcelona, Spain
When Abramavich bought the Chelsea FC, he wanted instant success and appointed Jose Mourhino as the man to bring glory to Stamford Bridge. His remit was Win Win Win every trophy possible. Mourinho's record during his three at Stamford Bridge was full of silver ware. Two Premiership titles, Carling Cup and FA Cup winners last year and not to mention twice semi finalists in the Champions League,. Either Abramavich wants blood or as I suggest their are too many chief's and not enough indians at Chelsea FC.....J Robins
j robins, london,
Mourinho is i a very good coach, with a very crazy character!!!!
Reinhold, Munich, Germany
i am heart broken to be of loss of a manager i have become so attached. its a dualistic issue for me, personally as a business manager. Jose Mourinho..What he has achieved at stamford bridge in the relatively short time he has been there is nothing short of amazing and it makes me so happy looking back on the memories that i have shared with fans in terms of taking my club to levels we have always dreamed of; to have a home run of never being beaten under his rein, his charisma and intelligence printed upon the blueprint of what is football, in my eyes, will neve be forgotten.
i love you Jose for what you made of my team
i love you Chelsea
Jose & Chelsea the Romeo & Juliet of football in my eyes
the memories will never be forgotten
thats a promisex
phil morgan, cardiff, wales
What a bunch of ungrateful whingers. As a Chels supporter home, away, europe I can tell you I was entertained every time we won. I was never more entertained than when we won the league at Bolton. If the halfwits who post drivel about entertainment don't like it then go down to the Camel Dome or buy a ticket for some West End show. Typical post '96 face painters who think football is trendy.
I was there Tuesday night as always and I can tell you that people didn't attend because the game was considered no better than playing a lower league team in the Carling cup and being charged 36 +1.50 tax for the privilege.
Truth is Chels have let the media and UEFA win. They have now got what they wanted Jose out and Chels no longer challenging so they can all go back to the love in with Mancs, Scouse and Gonners and order is restored.
I'll end with this anyone who reckons that watching their team lose a 4-3 and goes out saying oh well I really enjoyed that ain't a real football supporter.
Steve, London, UK
I'm a Chelsea fan and i tell u i rather loose the league than Jose Mourinho,ridiculous Roman take your money and go we keep Mourinho you can go to Israel or Russia.
Im furious with this decision no more money on chelsea this season.....
sergio, London,
Mourinho took over a very good team which had come second only to the Arsenal Invincibles in 2004 and had reached the semis in the Champions League. Ranieri had done all the hard work in laying the foundations. Then, having been given £60m to spend before his first season Mourinho took the team one place up after Arsenal went into temporary decline. The exhilirating football of that first season was the result of Ranieri's work.
Fairly soon though the culture of fear that Mourinho cultivated within his squad began to bear fruit. The turnover of top players became shockingly high and those who played regularly lost a lot of their initiative and flair. All the time Mourinho's ego seemed to grow. The decline was fairly swift culminating in undistinguished performances and, notably, criticising the owner for not spending more on the squad.
His disloyalty towards Abramovich was shocking given that so much had already been spent under his tenure.
Marek, London,
I think some comments here are, at least, ridiculous...
Mourinho won for Chelsea what they didn't win in 50 years... He won a Uefa Cup and a Champions League in a row with a team with less than half the budget than the top european teams (FC Porto)...
If this doesn't mean he's a great coach... I don't know what does...
Pikeno, Lisbon, Portugal
I dont understand people speaking winning with style hahaha, except Arsenal and Manu and maybe spurs last years, nobody play with style in the Premiership, in the world you can add Barcelona,sevilla and madrid this years, but they cant defend against great opponent(just see sevilla wasted by Arsenal, i was a fans of Mourhin0, where players need to work their ass on the pitch. But beside Carvalho and Lampard????? I think the player should be to blame, they lost faith in the Guy and play with no passion.I will support Chelsea forever. THX for the 2 Epl and good luck for the rest José.....
Denis, MONTREAL, CANADA
as a liverpool fan, i would say that british football is the loser, a great manager, and colourful figure in the game, unlike some i could mention, i wish jose good luck in all he doe,s in the future.
ken, southport, uk
Abramovic doesn't know anything about football. He is Russian and therefore he should not be allowed to have any saying on Europe' best sport.
Besides, Maurino has always revealed to be a flashy character but not a very effective one: you want good coaches? Hire an Italian. Lippi, Ancelotti, Ranieri, Trapattoni and even Mancini would do much better (with less money )
David, Bologna, Italy
Unfortunately, Jose was of an empty flamboyance who had the looks and style of a winner. When things are going well then all's gud. However, when the tide turns, arrogance then looks misplaced and embarrasing. Like Grandad's jokes at the Xmas family reunion.
Comparing his players to eggs came back to haunt him. He was scrambled justifiably in the end and his comments left him with egg on his face. If his players are eggs then that makes him a Chicken and unfortunately, on the field, his tactics looked tame, conservative and lacking courage. He had persona and style but this looked out of place with the traditional values of all footballing fans nationwide. If he was involved with WWF then it would be a completely different story !
fil, london,
You say, "...the malaise that has affected Stamford Bridge for far too long". I wonder how many other clubs, anywhere in the world would have dearly loved to have the same "malaise" Stop talking rot!
Marc, St. Barthelemy,
17,000 unsold seats for a European Champions League game says it all about Mourinho's style of play.To think he once criticised Tottenham for "parking the bus "in front of Chelsea's goal a few seasons ago.As a Spur's supporter of long suffering,I know we could have won an awful lot more if only we'd adopted a more defensive style years ago,and coming from a Chelsea manager,that took my breath away.
Mike, Dunstable, England
lol Miquel Miquel... Maybe, next year you'll face José Mourinho in Barcelona... :P
José Mourinho is the best manager in the world. The real problems to Chelsea begin now. I'm curious to see who will be the next manager and how long he will be there.
Carlos, Lisbon,
Chelsea had money, several million pounds, so they bought the 'best' from around the world. But the team had no cohesion or style. Jose Mourinho is only good at running off his mouth at other managers/players. instead of trying to build a strong team in cohesion and style. It is a good riddance to a man who is obsessed with siege and conspiracy mentality. when his team plays below par, the referee or his assistant or opposing players are the scapegoats. he is unhealthy for fair play in the game of football. he could be a better manager, only if he learns that- successful football teams are not built on hyper aggressive stance and extravagance spend.
samora, Ikeja, Nigeria, Lagos
miriam arit, Toronto,Ontario, Canada said:
"How he treated Shevchenko made me change my mind of supporting ."
I'm sure Chelsea will be very upset at the loss of such a devoted fan.
Listen Miriam, why don't you go watch Ice Hockey or some other Canadian sport and leave Football supporting to REAL fans who know what they are talking about.
James Roberts, Manchester, UK
Thank God he is finally gone; it is the best for Chelsea and for English football... he is a childish winner, a poor looser and an arrogant manager. What goes around comes arround mate!
Miquel, Barcelona, Spain
If today's news is correct Chelsea are replacing a successful manager with a total unknown. An eccentric theorist who just happens to be in favour with his boss.
Here's an alternative: Abramovic to go with his hangers on with club up for sale on basis that new owner allows the manager (who ever he is) to do his job without interference.
It could be worse. Mandaric at Leicester City sacked his "non compliant" manager after a matter of days.
Prove positive that autocratic owners are bad for football.
What Abramovic knows about football you could write on the back of a postage stamp and still have room for the last Queen's Speech....
Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, KSA
Time to go? Wenger won 4 matches and he´s king of the hill? You´ll see where he ends up this year...the 6th!!!!! without winning anything, that´s a quality manager...as for chelsea, everyone knows that they´ll play more attractive football and be without a title in the following years...6 was few, we´ll see what Abramovich thinks of 0!!! But hey, he can always put on a show and be like Barcelona nowadays. big stars who can´t win matches...There´s a saying in Portugal "Winning isn´t everything, it´s the only thing". Pretty soon chelsea supporters will learn the meaning of this...
Joao, Lisbon, portugal
Mourinho aroused great passions and there are a group of people in this country who no matter what the evidence hate him, will never give him credit for anything and who, are in relation to Jose, small minded, petty and blind to anything but their own hatred and this includes several journalist from major papers.
Mourinho raised the bar on every front in this country tactical acumen, games need to win the premiership, even in leaving after one loss and two draws he raises the bar, the man is a class act and chelsea will find it hard to replace him. How many trophies will you have to win to be better than him?
As for sheve the greatest mistake chelsea have made since chelsea village, roman is an idiot if he thinks that sheva will fire for anyone else. Jose wi go on and win lots of thigns with other clubs perhaps spurs whatever but be in no doubt real footabll people adn not the misguided haters out there understand the man's talent and he will not lack for a club.
david johnson , milton keynes , bucks
Say what you say about Jose but give him the respect he earned for Chelsea. He did a great job and produced results. While they were not pretty at times, they were achieved. When two egos collide such as these, the one at the hierarchy usually wins. One should say thank you to Jose for what he has done for the team over his reign. Thanks Jose and good luck to you in future endeavors.
Vedran, Chicago , USA/Illinois
I was a fan of Mourinho when he first came to Chelsea and started a different type of football, that is of heavy guarding. It's was different then, but now every team does the same. He was more casual then,but fame and winning, and wealth changed him. He was very hostile during interviews lately. How he treated Shevchenko made me change my mind of supporting Chelsea. I like to see him go and I hope Chelsea will get someone like Wenger and Ferguson. Then I can go back to support Chelsea again. You see we fans are just ordinary hard working people who loves to enjoy football and the 'adrenaline rush' we experience everytime our club makes a goal. We secretly wish we have the wealth like Abramovitch. Yet identifying with the club makes us feel rich, we sacrifice our money to watch the game.I love Shevschenko for the joy of his goals and the "adrenaline rush" I had during those times and to see him being stripped of the respect made me hate the "Eggoistic Mourinho". Thanks he resigned!
miriam arit, Toronto,Ontario, Canada
who was Chelsea Before Mourinho become coach? Mourinho did prove BEFORE become chelsea manager that he was GOOOD! Did chelsea done same?
LC, Lowestoft, Suffolk
Since Jose Mourinho is resigning, does it mean that Chelsea does not need to pay off the remainder of his contract (which has almost 3 years to go)?
Wilson, London,