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THE story of Jose Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea can be traced back to a spring night fours years ago.
On April 23, 2003, a businessman little known except in his native Russia was at Old Trafford watching a game between the two most charismatic clubs in Europe, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
It was the quarter final of the Champions League and was a thrilling encounter that United won 4-3 but was most notable for a world-class hatrick by Ronaldo that led to a standing ovation by the entire ground for the Brazilian.
Roman Abramovich was in the crowd that night and only two months later he was the owner of Chelsea … but it was that lasting impression of how football matches can be played that has influenced recent events at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho had arrived from FC Porto with a Champions League title to his name, along with a host of domestic trophies, and made an instant impression on English football with the arrogance and swagger of a successful man. Smart suits, designer stubble and frank answers at press conferences endeared him to both media and fans alike.
His first two seasons saw back-to-back championships and he was only denied a third last year by an inspired Manchester United.
Of course, attempts to undermine these triumphs because of the money that had been spent were widespread but plenty of managers in the Premiership have spent considerable amounts and won nothing.
In addition, he had won the Champions League with Porto on a shoestring beating United along the way which he enjoyed reminding Ferguson of when the Scot suggested that money is not a guarantee of success.
However, a second sem-final loss to Liverpool in Europe last year and a growing feeling that Mourinho’s pragmatic nature was effecting the style of football Chelsea were playing began to cause growing speculation that all was not well with ‘the special one’ and his Russian boss.
This unease was compounded by players such as Ballack and Schezchenko being purchased without the approval of Mourinho.
It was if Ambramovich was trying to force his manager to play the attacking free-flowing football he had seen that night in Manchester.
Mourinho though had other ideas as well as total belief in his own abilities. He was far too powerful to be dominated.
These tensions surfaced last year but during the summer we were assured that the air had been cleared and Chelsea were a club that was united in its vision for the future. Two weeks ago as Aston Villa scored their second goal, Ambrovich was seen to leave his seat and head for the exit – all was not as we thought.
A dull 0-0 home draw with Blackburn soon followed and the final straw was another poor home draw with Rosenburg with only 26,000 in the crowd.
Only 24 hours after this game and the manager was gone.
It appears that the manner of these displays was the final confirmation the board needed that the two opposing philosophies were never going to be unified.
Events moved on swiftly when Abramovich appointed Avram Grant, a personal friend and a man with little experience of managing at the top but well-respected in the football fraternity – a friend of Sven, no less.
Initial reports coming out of Israel that his national side were far from entertaining does not bode well for the new philosophy expected at The Bridge.
So, as Mourinho was saying a tearful farewell to his players, many of whom I am sure are deciding on their own future, the club was bracing itself for a turbulent period.
If results don’t go his way quickly then it is highly likely fans, players and the media will turn on Grant who will be classed as the agent provocateur in this whole episode and a high-profile replacement will soon be parachuted in to appease the distractors.
Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, has made it clear his next job will not be in England – and he has no interest in being manager of Portugal – which means it is likely either Spain or Italy will benefit from his skills and personality.
Not all of his contributions were positive, the criticisms of the Reading Ambulance Service after the Petr Cech incident being the worst example, but on balance his honesty and analysis was refreshing.
And what of Ambramovich? He might do well to learn from history and revisit that night in Manchester and see that neither of those two clubs have won a Champions League since, not even made a final, and in fact Madrid did not win any trophy domestic, or otherwise, until last year’s La Liga.
He will quickly realise that it is only the clubs where success is not expected, Newcastle or Tottenham, for example, that style carries the most value, whereas, at the big four, it is only the results that count.
In this battle of personalities the Premiership has been left with a man who considers entertainment a priority and it has lost a highly-skilled football fanatic, who embraced Chelsea’s traditions.
He also understood that what fans want above all is success … which he gave to them in abundance … and football in England will be a poorer place for his departure.
