Breaking News: Mourinho Leaves Chelsea!
The BBC, as well as other media outlets, have reported that manager Jose Mourinho has “severed” all ties with Chelsea Football Club by “mutual consent” over his differences with owner Roman Abramovich. He reportedly informed senior players at the squad via text message that he would be leaving the club the following morning
A rift became readily apparent between the two last season, with Abramovich becoming increasingly frustrated by Chelsea’s effective, though often cynical and uninspiring, style of play. The two had a very public feud, which came to a head in January 2006, when Abramovich denied Mourinho’s request for further transfer funds to supplement the squad. This, a power struggle with Frank Arnesen, and discord among the players over the Michael Ballack and Andiry Shevchenko signings left tensions at the club extraordinarily high, and clouded over what was a moderately successful season.
Mourinho returned for this season, though it was widely speculated to be his last. Chelsea performed well on paper, sitting 5th in the Premier League with 11 pts from 6 matches. However, their performances were often sub-par and unconvincing, and the club struggled mightily without prolific goal scorers Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard. The club’s recent poor results at home against Blackburn and Rosenborg as well as Abramovich’s frustration at the inability to add a marquee name after the sale of Arjen Robben to Real Madrid were thought to be the tipping point that caused Mourinho to leave.
The “Special One” was the most successful manager in Chelsea history over his three seasons, winning two domestic titles (2005,2006), two league cups (2005,2007), and an FA Cup (2007). He was instrumental in transforming Chelsea into an elite European side, though the elusive Champions’ League title remained outside their reach.
The future should be bright for Mourinho. Coming off two extraordinarily successful stints with Porto and Chelsea, and being still a young man at 44, he will be the hottest name linked with every high profile managerial job that comes available. The savvy pick would be for him to replace Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona next summer.
Chelsea, however, has a far more uncertain destiny. The club was already mired in discord. Mourinho leaving will only exacerbate the tension rather than alleviating it. In the short term, they will need to find a replacement to stabilize the situation and prevent this season from spiraling out of control. In the long term, they may be forced to rebuild their squad, with many high profile players (notably Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba) having their Stamford Bridge future tied to Mourinho’s presence.
He was good for the English game in the way he upped the anti. The vast amounts of money available to him not withstanding, created a certain lack of discipline aimed at the short term, like American business interests. Ballack was to go to Man U. Fortunes changed and, yet, did not. Agents reigned supreme. The game has been helped and been corrupted at once. Money and odds makers. It was the dearth of the Italian League. EPL is next.
That’s either brilliant poetry, or horrible grammar.