‘The Special One’ 12 years on

Was it really as long as 12 years ago when a slim, slightly-built Portuguese man arrived in west London amid a blaze of hype and fanfare?

This was no ordinary manager, however, and he was about to tell the assembled expectant media as such with a claim which would not only go down in the annals of football history, but could have equally come back to bite him on the behind.

Chelsea had been in the Premier League shadows of London rivals Arsenal, who in 2004 had just delivered an incredible unbeaten season and a third Premier League title under Arsene Wenger with their ‘Invincibles’ side.

Neutrals may have pointed to that theme continuing, but furnished with the riches of owner Roman Abramovich, the newly-appointed Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho knew different.

“Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one,” said Mourinho, before adding: “We have top players and, sorry if I’m arrogant, we have a top manager.” 

Mourinho took over from Claudio Ranieri, who had been at Stamford Bridge for four years. At the time, the well-liked Italian professed that his replacement would struggle to make the transition from the Portuguese League to the Premier League. Mourinho’s reply was typical of the man.

“I heard that and I suggest if one of you is Mr Ranieri’s friend or has his number, you should call him and explain to him that for a team to win the European Cup, it has to beat many teams from many countries. I did not win the cup playing against 20 Portuguese teams.

“I played and beat a team from his own country, Italy, from your country and the one he was working in, England. And to win the UEFA Cup, that was the same kind of thing.”

It was all breathtaking stuff, pure box office, and would continue to be so for both his spells in charge at Stamford Bridge – from 2004 to 2007, and from 2013 to 2015. Mourinho went on to back up his claims by guiding Chelsea to three Premier League titles, the FA Cup in the 2006/07 season and three League Cup wins.

Humility is perhaps something one doesn’t often attribute to Mourinho, but when asked about his initial Premier League ambitions 12 years ago as he began his career at Chelsea, he replied: “The biggest ambition I have is to win the first Premiership match on August 14.” When pushed to expand on that theme, he added: “The second ambition is to win the second Premiership match on August 21 and we will keep going like this.”

With earlier Champions League successes at Porto …

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