Jose Mourinho leaves Chelsea

[<_Spike_>]

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has sensationally left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent, the club has confirmed.

The news comes just 24 hours after the disappointing Champions League draw against Rosenborg.

BBC Radio 5live football correspondent Jonathan Legard understands Mourinho texted senior players, including skipper John Terry, with the news.

Mourinho joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 and led them to the Premiership title in each of his first two seasons.

Last season they finished runners-up to Manchester United but won both the FA Cup and Carling Cup, a trophy they had also collected in 2005.

His achievements also saw him voted as Premiership manager of the year in 2005 and 2006.

However the Champions League trophy eluded the club and this season's campaign started with Tuesday's shock 1-1 result against the Norwegians in front of a crowd of just 24,973.

It was their third successive game without a win following a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa and a goalless draw with Blackburn in the Premier League.

Those results have left Chelsea fifth in the table - two points behind leaders Arsenal and with a visit to Manchester United to come on Sunday.

He did have one unique record during his reign in never losing a home league game at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho signed a five-year contract in 2005 and quashed speculation in January that he would leave Stamford Bridge in the summer by saying he was happy to see out his deal if he received "real support" from the club


MOURINHO'S CHELSEA RECORD
2 June, 2004 - Appointed manager
27 February, 2005 - Wins Carling Cup 3-2 v Liverpool
30 April, 2005 - Beat Bolton 2-0 to win Premiership title
4 May, 2005 - Signs new five-year contract
29 April, 2006 - Beat Man Utd 3-0 to win Premiership again
27 February, 2007 - Beat Arsenal 2-1 to win Carling Cup
19 May, 2007 - Win FA Cup by beating Man Utd 1-0 at Wembley
19 September, 2007 - Leaves Stamford Bridge

 

[Touring Mars]

When you start making Eric Cantona-style analogies, you know it's time to go...

Remarkable that he never lost a league match at Stamford Bridge, and his successor will have a very hard time matching Mourinho on just about every level. Are the glory days over for Chelsea??

 

[Slick Rick]

I dont think the glory days are over, its just going to be harder for them for a while. It would have been cool if Mourinho was able to leave with the Champions League cup. Ahh well....

 

[Only_in_f1]

Avram Grant is the new guy.

He was Director of football and i think was head coach/talent scout at Portsmouth 2 years ago.

 

[Dave A]

He's only a new guy until they find a new guy. I knew Jose was coming closer to leaving every game, but I didn't expect it this soon. I'm wondering if Jose has delibertaly left just before the release of Chelsea's movie "Blue Revolution" and before the Chelsea v Man Utd match this Sunday.

Apparently, Roman had scheduled a meeting with some board members and with Avram for today where they were going to discuss Jose's future at Chelsea, Jose caught wind of this and had showdown talks yesterday and then left on mutual consent.

It will be hard to replace Jose, he was a very good manager. I think Roman wanted someone he could control and influence more. Heres hoping it has a negative effect on the Chelsea players on Sunday and a positive effect on ours.

 

[Only_in_f1]

In my mind, that man is Grant.
He pulled him to Chelsea, and worked closely with him in there time there so why no keep faith with him.

But what next for Jose?
Tottenham if Jol leaves? Another top club in europe? or will he take a break?

 

[<_Spike_>]

I hope he stays in the Premiership, he's a great manager and always enjoyable to watch and just what football needs in a manager both on the sidelines and in front of the cameras

 

[Sting]

As a Manchester United fan born and bred, I'm most happy about this news. Actually thought it was a wind-up.

Be interesting to see how Chelsea react to this, whether their form drops or stays a constant.

 

[Dave A]

I hope he stays in the Premiership, he's a great manager and always enjoyable to watch and just what football needs in a manager both on the sidelines and in front of the cameras

Your not alone on that thought.

 

[Touring Mars]

High praise indeed...

Plus, I doubt that many players will actually leave, but Abramovich would do well not to underestimate the role of an inspirational manager such as Mourinho in attracting and keeping top players at the club... Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba are apparently very unhappy at Mourinho's exit (unsurprisingly in the former case) plus several other key, influential players are known to be unhappy as well, and may consider moving on.

Although playing at a much higher level in Europe (and generally), I can't help drawing a comparison to the situation at Hearts (in the SPL) and their meddlesome 'saviour', Vladimir Romanov. Although he saved the club from financial ruin, he has been a very 'hands-on' owner and it's no secret that he's meddled in the day-to-day management (even in team selection) of the club. In my book, that's the manager's job and the owner should butt out. That's precisely what Mourinho is good at - managing a football team - indeed, he's still one of the best in the world - so it's understandable that he's felt like his role has been somewhat diminished with the increasing influence of Abramovich (in one way or another)...

It says alot about the sport when even the very best are forced out by behind-the-scenes machinations, and won't Chelsea live to regret it...??

 

[Famine]

Jose has apparently stated a desire to return to Portugal and not be heard from again.


Kate and Gerry McCann have offered their assistance.

 

[Race Idiot]

God damnit thats some expletive expletive expletive right there. GOD DAMN U ABRAMOVITCH

 

[Zmann42087]

I'm a Man Utd. fan and even I'm sad to see Mourinho go.

I hate rich Russians.

 

[Nicknamealguem]

But what next for Jose?
Tottenham if Jol leaves? Another top club in europe? or will he take a break?

From what I’ve heard on a interview with him, he had the desire to train the Portuguese Selection, maybe for the 2010 World Championship. I hope that comes true, because, I had enough of Scolari.

 

[Touring Mars]

Jose has apparently stated a desire to return to Portugal and not be heard from again.


Kate and Gerry McCann have offered their assistance.

Don't tell me... the chauffeur's initials were OJ?? 💡

 

[Only_in_f1]

From what I’ve heard on a interview with him, he had the desire to train the Portuguese Selection, maybe for the 2010 World Championship. I hope that comes true, because, I had enough of Scolari.

Isnt Scolari's job under threat anyway after the punch he threw?

 

[Nicknamealguem]

Isnt Scolari's job under threat anyway after the punch he threw?

It is being an hard situation. Portugal is losing crucial games for the Euro 2008, the people are getting tired of Scolari and that lame situation when Scolari missed a punch in the Serbian face (just joking).

From what I’ve heard in the News, he was just suspended from the rest of the qualification games for the Euro 2008 (4 games) and a fine of 12,000€ I think. So far I didn’t heard anything about his job under thread. But, who knows?

 

[<_Spike_>]

Well as it stands... Jose has turned down the heat about the Portugal job and out of respect for his former employees has decided to go to another country before a return to English football (screw respect Jose, just get stuck in!)

 

[Dave A]

"Out of respect" probably should translate to "has a clause in his settlement agreement that doesn't allow him to".

 

[<_Spike_>]

Meh, yeah probably I guess

 

[Omnis]

I still don't like Chelsea.

 

[KSaiyu]

What direction are we going with this....

Oh and that was a great penalty they got by the way, one of the many reasons I prefer American Football on a Sunday night.