The King is Dead…
Long live the King. In the words of Lloyd Bridges as Steve McCroskey in Airplane, it looks like I picked a bad week to give up smoking.
Let’s face it, it was never likely to end in a triumphant victory lap of the Stamford Bridge pitch with a handful of trophies and bear hugs from Roman and his retinue.
Whilst Uncle Ken may have upped sticks and moved to Yorkshire, his ghost clearly still stalks the corridors of Chelsea Football Club. And even he might be envious at the manner of Roman’s axe-wielding.
The recent sight of our benefactor leaving Villa Park, pausing briefly to shake the hand of Doug Ellis (no stranger himself to the managerial machete) on his way out was, with hindsight, not just that of a man in a hurry to make his flight home.
Football in the 21st century may be a very different game in some respects, but some things haven’t changed. Whilst the owners may be a new breed of wealthy, powerful individuals, the song they often sing remains the same.
Once there was Deadly Doug, now there is Ruthless Roman.
Amongst the whirlwind driven soap opera that has surrounded Jose Mourinho since his arrival in SW6 just over three years ago, it should be remembered quite how dramatically he changed the DNA of an underachieving football club.
Whilst many of the personnel still remain, the pre-Mourinho Chelsea was something light years away from the one we have today. We were a some-time music hall joke, nearly men – winning the occasional cup, having the odd once in a lifetime shot at the big time which was invariably blown in spectacular style.
I mean, has there ever been a more mind-blowing, catastrophic fuck up than Claudio Ranieri’s kamikaze approach to the Champions League semi-final with Monaco? So typically Chelsea.
To make the team successful, there needed to be a dramatic change of culture, the type of which usually comes from an individual so driven, so single minded and hell-bent on success that their personality courses through every vein of the club – Ferguson and Wenger being prime examples of this.
The money helped him, of course. But as the afore-mentioned United and Arsenal men, along with many others, pointed out on Mourinho’s arrival in the country, it doesn’t guarantee you success.
He inherited a strong team from Ranieri, but added that touch of magic. The sexy football we’d seen from Gullit’s side; the steel evident in Vialli’s team and an unshakeable belief that being beaten was simply for someone else.
If I live to see another Chelsea side as good as the one that lifted the 2004-5 title, I’ll consider myself very lucky.
And boy, did Jose piss a few people off on the way.
Arsenal fans started boasting about their class and how stylish their football was. They used to taunt us about the trophies they’d won and how often they beat us.
Liverpool fans even gave us our own song. I don’t think they’d ever really noticed us that much before Mourinho.
Sure, at times he overstepped the mark. Given the fines he has contributed to the FA in the last three years, if he doesn’t have his own box at Wembley there’s something wrong. Occasionally I cringed at his antics, as I’m sure many others, both inside and outside the club did.
But however much he antagonised and irritated, deep down there was always this wonderful, mischievous feeling.
That he’d taken my Chelsea, the bunch of flash underachievers from West London, and gatecrashed football’s VIP area, offended the long-standing club members to the point of apoplectic rage, nicked the champagne and left with the family silverware.
The “sssssshhhh” at the Liverpool fans in Cardiff. The cathartic slide across the Nou Camp turf on his knees. The Premiership medal discarded into the Matthew Harding Lower. All quintessential Jose – I’m sure you’ve got your own favourite Mourinho moments.
It’s difficult to summarise the difference the man from Portugal has made, but I’ll try. There are two events that, whilst worlds apart in football terms, actually took place just six years from each other.
April 18, 1999: my heart sank as Steve Guppy drove home Leicester’s equaliser at the Bridge, ultimately ending our first meaningful title challenge for some years. 2-0 up and cruising, the Blues succumbed to eight minutes of madness and blew their chance to lift the biggest prize in English football. I didn’t believe I’d ever see us get that close again during my lifetime.
April 30, 2005: The Reebok Stadium, 2-0 up and cruising towards the title. Chelsea – Premiership Champions. It still looks strange to see that in print, even now. Anyone who doubts quite what Mourinho did for the club need just consider that for a moment.
Can his shoes be filled? Can Avram Grant get us to the end of next April and still be in contention for all four trophies? Today, it feels impossible to perceive that he will be able to do so.
Or that anyone can, certainly in the short term, for that matter. Quite what Roman has done, other than delighting opposition fans and managers across the football world, I have no idea. After the Rosenborg game, Abramovich’s Champions League dream may have seemed a long way off; it might just be even further away by Christmas.
But that’s for another blog. For the time being, I’ll just say farewell Jose, the very best of luck wherever you go and thanks for everything. You were unquestionably arrogant, opinionated, outspoken and quite simply, the very best I’ve ever seen. Special doesn’t even begin to cover it.
- Posted at 04:02 PM · Permalink · Print · 4037 views · Last indexed by Google on the 10th May 2008
- Tags: Avram Grant, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Ken Bates, Roman Abramovich, Steve Guppy
Thank you Jose.
And thank you JD, for nearly making me cry. At work.
It’s been a wonderful three years. I just hope the rumours of him accepting a behind the scenes job for the Portugese National side are wide of the mark.
He needs football. And football needs him.
That was a cracker JD.
I think you should post the pic of you from the Telegraph, though, to give us all a good laugh.
“Special doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
Thank you for expressing my exact thoughts!
Jose will be sorely missed.
Keep the Blue Flag flying high!
Pete - not sure there is enough bandwidth to get that beer belly on the site! Nick has a copy - I’ll leave it with him…
Fantastic JD it just about sums it all up.
The man was quite simply a “Genius” and I don’t think we’ll see the likes of him again at the Bridge.
Saudade Jose!
I agree. He will be sorely missed. I’m going to miss being wound up by such a charismatic character every weekend… I loathed him, but I loved to hate him.
While we at United were dubiouse about our takeover, I would have never thought that it would infact be Chelsea Football Club that would suffer from a takeover. It will be a long time till you see success again in my opinion. It wont be untill Abramovich realises he is now mimicking the F.A., and we all know how long its been since England’s national side done anything note worthy.
Anyhow.. Jose, you will be sadly missed, even if it isnt for the same reasons as those who support Chelsea.
Now roll on Sunday… get your seatbelts ready for a potential car wreck
Magnificent JD. Perfectly summed up. I said there was more to come but frankly hoped it wouldn’t be in the shape of a second rate Israeli nearly man. Roll on 2008/2009 under the tutelage of Sparky!
Sigmund Judge - I think we may need more than a seatbelt. I think we’ll need the flame retardant suit, the crash helmet and asbestos gloves. I think Avram Grant will need full body armour for the Fulham game.
Spot on JD. You really have to wonder if Roman knows what he is doing. Jose isn’t just an absolute legend, he is such an amazing character. Without admitting it, almost all other supporters were jealous that he was our manager, not theirs. Pre-Jose, Ferguson used to be thought of as the best manager and biggest managerial-personality in the Prem. Mourhino raised the bar on both those counts with such brilliance, such style. I loved the 04/05 season: when Chelsea needing a goal with ten minutes left basically meant the three points were already in the bag for us. JM = Legend
Thanks JD. You speak for most of us.
Beautiful piece…loved it.
Farewell JM you will be missed.
The King has left the stage.
Thanks JD,
Very nice article and you’ve included all the his best parts, bar him calling Arsenal Winger a voyer. LOL
I feel like i’ve been dumped by a bird! I’m missing Jose already, he made me feel comfortable, just knowing he managed Chelsea. Although he are going through a rough patch, i knew he’d make it better.
Why Roman? Why?
K/T/B/F/F/H
Cheers all. A very strange day - only time will tell what is going to happen, but I hope that in the bigger scheme of things we’re not going to look back on this day as being even blacker than it already feels.
I’m off to the pub to raise a glass to the legend that is Jose Mourinho. What a man…
cracking article mate wish i could be as optimistic as you are all hail jose
Over the decades, we’d shown flashes that on our day we could beat anyone, but Jose gave us what we’d lacked - consistency.
I love him for making my impossible dream come true - League Champions Chelsea.
PS Do you realise that the last 3 managers who led us to FA Cup Final victories have been sacked the following season (Ruud, Luca & Jose)? Crazy.
Thanks you Jose for everything you have done so far…
I am bitterly sad and do not think whether I will recover one day… I am really shell-shocked!
I am still in love with Chelsea but how come I can support the same club than AbrahamoSHIT!!!
Yes I have said it!
Come on the Chels’
But I will hate AbrahamoSHIT, Grant, Kenyon FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry guys - but I won’t miss him. I spent today at a Ron Harris golf day and he and his fellow team-mates wont be missing him either.
Now lets start winning but with style.
And through it all
when there was doubt
we won 4-2, knocked Barca out
just goes to show, the man’s a pro
Jose Mourinho.
Chin up, Jose.
I’m amazed at the apathy of the Avram Grant appointment - do you lot seriously think this guy is anywhere good enough to improve the club beyond TSO’s achievements. Someone said that he could be another Arsene Wenger, who was fairly unknown before he took Arse on. Uttr bollocks, he’s 52 so if he was another Wenger I think we’d know by now….and so would he. Am I being harsh? I couldn’t have been more disappointed with a successor than if they’d rolled out Howard Wilkinson. Man Utd must be rubbing their hands in glee, and even if we did win then it’s just a normal post-manager departure reaction. Long term this will bollocks our season. I was gutted when Gullitt went and again when Vialli went but this feels like the blackest day since Matthew Harding died and any hope of a transparent honest ownership of Chelsea died with him. For Avram Grant read Les Reed, Stuart Houston, Bruce Rioch, Glen Roeder, Stuart Wigley, Roy Evans, Christian Gross, Valemir Zajec, David Pleat, Josef Venglos and of course Howard Bloody Wilkinson.
Just how can things be better than actually winning stuff? In a years time will the club be spinning lines on how much better things are despite us not winning anything and finishing out of the CL places whilst losing players like Lamps, Drogs and Riccy. Will “bad” become the new “good”?
God save the King! God save Jose! Let’s hope our lads can re-discover their magic touch and win the Champions League for Jose!
I had absolutely no clue about this until a friend texted me whilst on the bus this morning. I’m honestly shocked. Having found myself as a supporter of the club during Mourinho’s first season, I lack the inherent pessimism that most more seasoned Chelsea followers exhibit. This can be a double-edged sword, as my blue-tinted glasses from a few days ago have been scratched.
This entire affair has obviously been in the works for a long while, but I’ve been choosing to disregard it a little and simply maintain the faith. Being solely experienced in Jose’s reign, I do not believe that Avram Grant is the man to continue the glory that Jose brought us. Undoubtedly, our 2007-08 season is probably going to become one of transition, and I sincerely hope that Grant’s appointment only turns out to be a stop-gap while a more worthy successor to the throne is found.
Over the past few years, Jose Mourinho has allowed me to witness satisfaction and disappointment, thankfully more of the former than the latter. I leave home for the University of East Anglia tomorrow, and therefore it’s perhaps fitting that his tenure has ended now. My life seems more filled with uncertainty than ever before, and that is equally exciting and terrifying.
All I know is that my sheltered introduction to Chelsea supportership is now complete, and on whatever potentially perilous journey that the club is about to embark on next, regardless of the inevitable lows we’ll encounter, I am now sure that I will continue to tag along on the relentless quest for the highs. My heart has found a home here, never to leave, and my loyalty is sincere. For that, I think I am most apppreciative.
So thank you Jose, and good luck. The reign of The Special One will never be forgotten and, I suppose, the next adventure is now… We’re all in this together, and Chelsea is our name.
I did not think it would hurt me this bad when i first heard that Jose might be leaving Chelsea. I knew he had transformed the club from junction of big name players to team with high spirit and winning attitude but the impact he has left in the club is what I believe will be difficult to carried by Avam Grant or any other coach. It’s been more than 24 hours since I am feeling down. It’s like someone I loved has left me. That is how much it’s hurting me.
I wont say that there wont be other coach who can carry this club forward but it will be very very difficult to emulate what Jose has left. That gap may never be filled. And, though I hope what I am saying may never come true, but I have very bad feeling that this could cost Chelsea what could have glorious days had Jose still been in club.
The first time I read this news I was totally shocked. I hoped and prayed that this be only a “September fool” joke, but ……..
I will always wish Chelsea and Jose good luck for whatever they choose to do in future…..
My favorite moment of the Mourinho era:
A wonderful 3-0 against United to clinch a second Premiership at home. Joe’s goal and subsequent celebration (and winning the title with such style) is something I will never forget.
We’ll miss you, Special One. We already do.
Boy In Blue:”Having found myself as a supporter of the club during Mourinho’s first season,,”
“having found yourself a supporter?” this is the reason so many people call chelsea fans glory hunters.
REAL fans want history ,tradition and passion.Prob 50% of current chelsea fans would have picked any team to follow if they smelled that they were gonna be dominant due to the amount of money they were throwing around when roman bought you. You would be called Boy in White(chris) if romeo had bought tottenham. can you not see how mercenary this makes you look?
This is no offence to REAL chelsea fans. only the fairweather supporters who no doubt will switch teams if chelsea find themselves midtable in 10 years time.
prawn sandwich is right. Where were you in your 1st champions league match of the season?
you are the reason football is turning middle class and shite
you all sound like a bunch of teenage girls when take that split up
Avram grant is very clearly a stop-gap manager, however I think that Abromovich is having an each way bet.
If Grant fails, then he will be replaced with a big-name manager who will be recruited during the summer, and the club will inevitably write the year off as transitional period while they look to the future. If he succeeds (please, please!) then of course his appointment is a stroke of genius!
The truth is that Mourinho can’t be replaced. We will never see anything like him again at Chelsea, however we have to look to the future. We still have one of the best squads in Europe and courtesy of Abromavich, the resources to sustain our success into the future - we just need to accept that we will follow a different path than the one we might have expected under Mourinho.
My biggest fear is that this season will become a “rebuilding” year. Given our recent success, I don’t know how I will cope with the frustration of a difficult and (god forbid) trophyless season!
I was hardly able to choose when I first discovered the club, Dave. I will openly admit I wasn’t born with a blue spoon in my mouth, considering my interest in sport as a whole has only developed within the last few years and I’ve grown up in the heart of Salford where Manchester United have all their traditional fanbase and it is practically impossible to follow anyone else.
I do live a few hundred miles from Stamford Bridge, and I’m also a full-time student, hence why I didn’t attend the game on Tuesday. If I had had the time and money (an increasing limitation on attendance at any club these days, especially on the younger generations), then I assure you I would have been there. You can’t suggest my lack of passion for Chelsea simply because I have not been around as long as some of the others.
My decision has been made, and my support is rigid. Believe me, it would be much easier for me to be a Red looking at where I live and the era that I grew up in when United won title after title in the most successful period of their history. Of course I am pleased about Chelsea’s recent achievements, but I still revere the club’s individual past, even though I wasn’t alive or able to witness it at the time.
You may not consider me a ‘real’ fan now, but I will still be here if the dark years return and that is a promise. Maybe if we were to get relegated, I could finally afford to buy a ticket (!)
Thanks JD for an excellent eulogy, I was asked yesterday if someone had died, such was the effect of the news on my demeanour, and like Fifty after reading this blog, I was close to tears when I rang my 12yr old son to tell him the news. Agree with CheBeef too that it felt like yesterday was the end of a love affair, something special that will never happen again. The grieving continues but is being tempered by a more rational outlook as the closure begins.
I wonder if AG had not been waiting in the wings whether Steve Clarke would have been given the caretaker role? Surely that’s what AG must be? There’s no-one currently available with the calibre to even begin trying to better Jose’s achievements, so I’m assuming Roman has decided to work with who’s around.
We thought last season was about survival but this appointment seems like an admission that we have to tread water until a proper replacement can be found. The trouble is I still don’t see anyone from the various short-lists compiled that fills me with optimism. Sparky would be a good sentimental choice but I’m not convinced.
I guess we’ll see how intense that search becomes once we’ve played the next few matches. If in the (unlikely) event that we survive as well as we did last year in the circumstances, and don’t end up struggling for a eufa cup slot, then it looks like a long wait till after the Euros before seeing who Roman really thinks is capable of regaining the league title and winning ‘old big ears’. He can’t seriously believe that AG is that man.
Red Dave, You sound like a cock. You’ve obviously no insight into how REAL football fans feel when something like this happens.
Please go back to searching the internet for pictures of naked boys.
I just thought I would trawl through some of the opposition team blogs to see what they were saying, but this obnoxious scouse twat takes the biscuit! http://www.thisisanfield.com/kopblog/
Just shows what Liverpool and their one brain celled supporters are really like.
Fuck I hope United or Arsenal beat them to the title if we can’t do it. Fuck Off Livershit!
Rant Over!
Thanks JD for expressing the emotion we all feel in the words we could never find.
When Jose came to Chelsea I was ecstatic because I believed we had signed the best manager in the world, snatching him from under Liverpool’s nose. He said he wanted to stay 10 years and become a legend to Chelsea supporters. Well he was here 3 years only, but still leaves as a legend in my opinion. I cannot think of any manager in the world who can improve the levels he has set.
It really does feel like someone died.
It would be easier for us to take if he was being replaced by someone we could have faith in and would bring more entertaining football. However, from what I have heard about Grant his ethos is similar to Jose’s in terms of style of play - although he just doesn’t have the respect of the players or the fans.
Also, appointing an Israeli may limit our shirt sales across the middle east!
Please get Sparky before he takes over at Old Trafford!
Thank you Jose,
Is there anything else to say? Not really.
Grant was snake behind Jose’s back. By being Israeli I have a right to say something. Grant comes from the country where there are 12 etams in the PL and 99 percent of the players would not make first team in the Chapionship. If Roman thinks he has made something clever he made a BIG mistake!!! The only thing he did is just SATISFIED his EGO!!!!!
If anyone reading this blog owns a pair of footy boots, get them ready.
The doom mongers in the press are making out the whole sqaud want to leave because Jose’s gone. BBC Sport reckon Drogs, Lamps, Essien, Ferreira, Malouda and Carvalho want out.
Maybe the club will hold trials….
You may have a point there Fifty; personally, I’m slightly overweight with no notable experience of football at this level.
Actually, thinking about I fit the profile perfectly - I could be managing the bloody club soon!
I think it’s time to resign ourselves to the fact that we’re never going to see another Jose Mourinho as manager at Chelsea.
Whoever we pick come Avram’s dismissle; they won’t have the same aroganse, be so outspoken, use mad metaphores, speak his mind, protect the players and the club. He beleives in a certain style of football, winning at all costs, that’s what the game is about isn’t it?
Christ’s sake Roman what have you done? Why has this guy who saved our club from bankrupsy screwed up a winning formula. He’s obviously not stupid and in a few weeks he’s going to realise the mistake his made; albeit being to big headed to anything about it.
K/T/B/F/F/H
I’ve got my boots at work, let me just finish by pie and i’ll be there!
P.s.
Everyone will remember where they were when they found out Jose Mourinho got kicked out. I was in bed at 1pm approx when i got a text from a Milwall pal. I turned on Sky Sports News to see all of it unravel. I didn’t quite beleive it at the time, i kinda thought it wasn’t real so went to sleep.
BRING BACK JOSE!
JD,
I’ve played a bit of Pro Evo and Football Manager, and am currently winning my work’s fantasy football competition - can I be your Assistant Manager or Director of Football when you replace Avram ???
On the playing side, not sure my post-match ritual of 8 pints and a take away would wash too well at the Bridge. Besides, my current team would want a hefty transfer fee. Of £10 and some balls probably.
Of course AG could be a stop-gap until Sven has completed his Premiership apprenticeship at Citeh?
I feel insulted that a Red Dave can sprout there ugly red head at a departure of one of the greatest football heads. To only but offer narrowness of one’s mind with little in the way discussion on the issue at hand.
I wonder how low you must feel as a person with an ego as small and young as a sperm cell. We are bidding farewell to a friend, loved by us and respected by many (save for you poor soul). It is only fair that you offer you respects and retire into hiding…
Don’t pickup Sport Magazine this morning. Either the editor hates Chelsea or he’s really bad at his job.
K/T/B/F/F/H
Looks like I picked a bad week to stop sniffing glue ;D
Thanks Jose for everything, I hope you come back one day.
For all those who are happy to see the back of him, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’
holding trials? what trials?
out against MU
Stuart Searle; Anthony Grant, Carl Magnay, Sam Hutchinson (c), Patrick van Aanholt; Michael Woods, Liam Bridcutt, Lee Sawyer ; Miroslav Stoch, Shaun Cummings, Scott Sinclair
Manager: Jonathan Dyer
Player/Assistant manager: Fifty
In the time it takes to say “hey! where’s Makelele?” we score two and we’re back on track
God Bless You JM (might as well be: JM bless you God)
With every minute I feel more worse. I really feel bad about this stupid of Abramovich. Sunday will not bring anything good to us Chelsea fans. Players wont to leave I do not blame them. I would be wanting the same thing.
Hes gone…I’m so sad. He made football sexy. no more combat 18 with fat bald ugly blokes with nothing better to do than fight and and eat shit food. Football had evolved to pop star staus. His sexy, uncomprimising and over confident bravado made us all believe in him like he’s an cult leader and us just lost sheep. Is football going to become like F1, Monochrome and dull?