It would appear all but certain that current Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, will be back patrolling the sideline for his former club Chelsea next season. Reports broke today that Mourinho will be introduced as Chelsea’s new boss on or after the date of Madrid’s last game of the season on June 2nd.
Mourinho, nicknamed “The Special One”, returns to Chelsea where he was manager from 2004 – 2007. He arrived at the club fresh off a Champions League win with Porto and big things were expected. Despite winning two EPL titles, an FA Cup, and 2 League Cups in his 4 years as Chelsea Manager, Mourinho was let go in 2007, largely due to his failures to win at the Champions League level. There was a very public falling out between Mourinho and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich at the time.
Mourinho moved on to Inter Milan where he was able to capture his second Champions League crown. In the 2009-10 season, Inter won the Treble – the Serie A Title, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League. Mourinho was at the height of his glory, and famed as the best coach in the world.
Mourinho then moved on to Real Madrid where he led the club three trophies including winning the Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa. After a disappointing 2012-13 campaign, he and the club have mutually agreed part ways.
Now Mourinho returns to Chelsea, to try and attain the goal he could not, winning the Champions League with the club. In the interim, Roberto Di Matteo took over the squad in 2012 and led them to win the Champions League. He was fired earlier this season, just 6 months after leading the blues to the title that Abramovich has craved for so long.
Mourinho officially replaces Rafa Benitez, who took over for Di Matteo at midseason. Unable to correct Chelsea’s midseason swoon, and never fully accepted by the fans of the club, it was clear from the start that Benitez would not be Chelsea’s manager past the end of the season. The coach and the club made it official that he was not returning several weeks ago.
Chelsea are currently on tour in America, playing a series of exhibition games after the EPL season ended on Sunday.
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