The return of The Special One?
Friday, 30 May 08, 12:21 PM · Comments (169)
I love conjectures when it comes to the football business and I’m now going to indulge myself in this one. As remote as this may seem now, I am increasingly thinking we are going to witness the shock return of The Special One to Stamford Bridge. Obviously, all the papers and pundits are solidly claiming he’s going to Inter Milan and the sacking of Roberto Mancini would seem to more or less confirm this view. Indeed, amongst all the names being peddled for the Chelsea job, Jose Mourinho’s is conspicuously missing. But, as I’ve implied above, I’m reading the situation differently.
From all I can see in the press, there’s no new information on the Inter move, but with the sacking of Henk Ten Cate and the continued retention of Steve Clarke, I think the deck is being cleared for Mourinho’s return. To me, the sacking of Ten Cate indicates that Frank Rijkaard won’t be coming. As much as Roman Abramovich is reputed to be yearning for free-flowing attacking football, Rijkaard’s magic has waned in the past couple of years and his reputation for not being able to rein in big egos would not appeal to the Chelsea hierarchy that needs a strong character for the dressing room. Besides, Roman is too proud to want to jump at the opportunity of employing a Barcelona reject. Indeed, I have a feeling that no sacked manager or anyone whose position is presently threatened will get the Chelsea job; so those who think Mancini or Sven-Goran Eriksson are in the frame should think something else. In Mancini’s case, the fact that he made no headway in Europe in his time with Inter further rules him out. Chelsea are not only looking for a coach with proven European success, but I think they’re also looking for one with a record of winning the Premier League. Chelsea are not looking to Mark Hughes or Roy Keane. The reported interest in these people is manufactured by the British press. Didier Deschamps wants a job badly and he’s an old boy; so he’s let it be known he’s available. But he was overlooked for Mourinho four years ago and I can’t see Chelsea going back to him. Guus Hiddink is too old by Chelsea’s standard and big Phil Scolari is too eccentric and untested in club football in Europe. What all this means is that the job is only for one man. That man is Jose Mourinho. Reports have claimed he’s got back on good terms with Roman and the Chelsea hierarchy and he himself has confirmed it in a series of interviews. There are even reports that Roman gave him a gift of a special Ferrari model recently and so on and so forth. When all is said and done, there is nobody on the list of possible appointees with a better record than Mourinho. There’s none with his charisma and there’s none with the ability to energize the supporters worldwide than him. There’s none that can sell the Chelsea brand better worldwide and yes, he stands head and shoulders above everyone purportedly in the frame. So, what is the problem?
I think what is happening is that Mourinho has probably reached some kind of pre-contract arrangement or understanding with some other club (possibly Inter) before the present development at Chelsea and would rather Chelsea sort it out with the club before he can return. He could also be playing mind games with the Chelsea hierarchy, considering the nightmare they put him through in his last year and half at the club in terms of hamstringing him. Mourinho wants full control of football affairs and is possibly driving a hard bargain behind the scenes while letting the impression be created that he isn’t going to wait for Chelsea as he has another job lined up. I think the battle now is between Inter and Chelsea for Mourinho’s signature. I won’t be surprised if there are talks now behind the scenes between Inter, Chelsea and Mourinho to get the latter back at the Bridge. Inter sacking Mancini could just be a gimmick to up the ante with Chelsea, while Chelsea sacking Ten Cate and leaving Clarke could be a message to Mourinho that the people brought in as part of the now failed reorganization at Chelsea have been cleared. Mourinho and Ten Cate obviously have a history from the Frisk-induced Battle of Nou Camp and the Chelsea hierarchy are clearly aware that he’d be the last man Mourinho would want to work with. So, my little theory is that the card shuffling going on in the European managerial circles may shockingly return Mourinho to the club that has given him the biggest profile of his career and to fans with whom he still has a love affair. I will therefore hang on to the faintest hope that The Special One is returning until Chelsea actually appoint a new manager. Stranger things have happened in football.
Update · Monday 2nd June · Mourinho takes over as Inter boss
Jose Mourinho has been appointed as manager of Inter Milan.
Mourinho has signed a three-year deal with the Italian side in his first job since he and Chelsea parted company by mutual consent in September 2007.
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I think it's about as likely as Peter Kenyon having any respect from the fans.
wow, this is one insightful article...but no one can be sure what may happen... Morinho is probably playing mind games with the Chelsea board right now, with the whole Inter affair, but it could be exactly what it looks like! Morinho's gonna end up in Inter, and Scolari or Mancini will get the Chelsea job...
BUT...
no one can tell...unless u can read Tsar Abramovic's mind ;)
May Chelsea aquire a worthy enough coach for the players and fans, not to mention its owner!
This is very surprising because I just made this analysis to a friend earlier before storming through this article. I think Mr. Kenn is absolutely right. The press told us that Jose sent a text message to Michael Essien stating he would be signing for Inter on Monday. But up till now we still haven't gotten a confirmation that he (Jose) has signed for Inter Milan. Moreover, Ten Cate was assured of his job when Avram Grant was sacked but surprisingly his job was terminated days after. I think Ten Cate was fired due to conditions given by Jose that he wouldn't want any interference as a head coach because that was where the problem all started when Avram Grant was brought in as the director of sports, a position that was later offered to Grant which he refused. I feel the return of the special one would boost the fans, the players as well as the management. Roman needs one thing "THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE" and has realized he wasn't patient enough for Jose to deliver. Other great managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson & Arsene Wenger have stayed seasons without trophies but it wasn't enough for them to be fired. All I can say now is that the table has turned and the people that instigated Roman to fire Jose have failed Roman. So it only boils down to one thing, if with all the speculation that Jose was already headed for Inter Milan and days after it was officially stated that Mancini was sacked there's still no confirmation, then it is clear that Chelsea & Inter are trying to reach an agreement on Jose. You don't have a deal if it's not certified. Jose loves Chelsea as much as the players. I wouldn't be surprised to see the return of the "special one". We all know Jose and his mind games, so I think something is going on that even the press don’t know about. So stay keep your fingers crossed for the “UNEXPECTED”.
Jose Mourinho will be back just like Tupac Shakur!!!
Rex Omamoke
Johannesburg, South Africa
why dont we just do a poll within this site of the personality the chelsea fans would like to see as their next manager if its
TSO GUUS
RIJKAARD SPARKY
SCOLARI ANCELOTTI(matchfixer)
MANCINI HITZVELD
ERICKSON ZOLA
CLARKE LIPPI
after these do a poll of the player you would most likely want to see in chelsea() and those you would most likely want to leave chelsea....
GUYS the league in ENGLAND is controlled by the standard of REFEREEING for example if am given 9 PENALTIES IVE BEEN GIVEN 27 CLEAN Points.. if we can get 3REDS AGAINST the top 4 teams there is no way we can loose the league....in simple terms get a coach who can get these things done ....flamboyance is absolute rubbish if the ref is incharge
Lovely article KEN but i have to agree with the above comments. There's no way T.S.O will be returning to Stamford Bridge, no matter how much we all want it.. As SHAK says, it's looking to be between Scholari and Mancini at the moment.
Imagine if Mourinho did come back to us though?
Wow..it'd be like..the biggest come-back since Bobby Ewing!!!!
No way, Jose is gone for good. Let's not start celebrating, as the "Special One" has gone for good.
-Ndubuisi Okoli
Lagos, Nigeria.
169 Comments · Add yours
I think your analysis may be too much hoping than objective reduction. As much as i would love to see Mourinho with us once and for all, i dont see that happening very soon. this is for the mere fact that `mourinho is a very strong personality, he wont go back to something until he has been completely vindicated. see him coaching a team, perhaps even `inter, beating us 4-nil before he is really in the right frame of mind to come back. however lets hope that you are right
Chelsea needs a manager for many years to come, Chelsea cant change manager each year or second year. To make chelsea stable , there is a need for a long term manager.
Why does not anyone mention Martin Oneill. Give him the chance to create a team that will win trophy.. Chelsea need a manager for many years to come, Give Martin the chance, He is skilfull, he is rather young have many hungry years ahead of him, He has balls. Why is he not mentioned?