If Chelsea fans were tasked with selecting a defining figure from their Premier League success, they may agree on one icon.
Jose Mourinho moved to west London in 2004 following back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and a Champions League triumph as Porto manager.
Upon his Stamford Bridge arrival, he announced himself to the world media with an eye-opening press conference.
“Please don’t call me arrogant, because what I’m saying is true,” he said whilst radiating confidence and calmness in front of reporters.
“I’m European champion so I’m not one of the bottle, I think I’m a special one.”
Mourinho had just landed in SW6, a year after Chelsea were bought by Roman Abramovich for £140million.
But his words issued a strong statement of belief in a stark warning to the Premier League ahead of an historical first season.
Chelsea were crowned champions at the end of the 2004/05 season with what what was their first league title success in 50 years.
The Blues finished top with what was then records of 95 points and 29 wins, with just one defeat coming across their 38 fixtures.
More impressively, Chelsea conceded just 15 goals that season, a feat that no other side has been able to match or surpass.
Mourinho also made managerial history despite only arriving in the English top flight less than a year beforehand.
He became the first Premier League manager to ever win the title in their debut season.
The ‘Special One’ opened an elite club that only four other managers have been able to join ever since.
Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini, Antonio Conte and, more recently, Arne Slot have followed in his footsteps in the following 20 seasons.
Mourinho then led Chelsea to back-to-back titles a year later as their domination in English football began to take hold.
A third consecutive crown didn’t make its way to Fulham Road in the 2006/07 as United finished top and ahead of the Blues by six points.
And in September 2007, Mourinho left Chelsea after a spell that saw six trophy wins across three seasons.
The Premier League had therefore lost one of their most charismatic, controversial and successful characters in its history.
Won a Premier League title in their first season
Jose Mourinho – Chelsea – 2004/05
Carlo Ancelotti – Chelsea – 2009/10
Manuel Pellegrini – Manchester City – 2013/14
Antonio Conte – Chelsea – 2016/17
Arne Slot – Liverpool – 2024/25
Mourinho later won two Serie A titles and the Champions League at Inter Milan before finishing top of LaLiga with Real Madrid.
But an emotional return to Chelsea was sealed in June 2013, and he delightedly announced himself as the ‘Happy One’.
“I’m arriving to a club where I love it,” he said. “I love it already.”
Premier League title no.3 with the Blues followed him in the 2014/15 season but just seven months later, he left for a second time.
Chelsea had sunk to the bottom-end of the table with nine defeats from 16 matches and agreed a mutual departure with Mourinho.
The Premier League’s saw one of their cover stars leave again, though a third comeback swiftly followed – this time at Manchester United in 2016.
His opening season in the Old Trafford dugout ended with a sixth-place finish, with his former club Chelsea becoming champions again. However, he did win the League Cup and Europa League.
Mourinho and United showed stark improvement during the 2017/18 campaign though as they finished second on 81 points.
Their rivals Manchester City finished top with 100 points, the most in the history of the Premier League to date.
City were beaten in just two games, with the first a 4-3 defeat against Liverpool and the second a 3-2 home loss to who else, but United.
December 2018 spelt the end of another tenure for Mourinho, who left when they sat 19 points behind by eventual champions Liverpool.
However, the Portuguese boss held his second-place finish with United in high regard during an interview with beIN SPORTS in 2019.
“I consider one of the best jobs of my career, to finish second with Manchester United in the Premier League,” he insisted.
“You’d say, ‘This guy is crazy! He won 25 titles, and he’s saying that a second position was one of his best achievements in football?’
“I keep saying this, because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”
Mourinho later collected his 26th trophy as a manager with Roma in 2022 when they won the inaugural UEFA Conference League.
He’s now positioned at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, although his first season is unlikely to add any further silverware onto his CV.
A fifth Premier League stint, with the fourth coming at Tottenham from 2019 to 2021, has long been a speculated topic.
This would become even more dramatic if Mourinho was reappointed at Chelsea or United, where past success ranks high on his long list.
Both sides are in very different positions compared to his respective spells though ahead of their Friday night clash, live on talkSPORT.
Chelsea are in the Premier League’s fifth and final qualification spot for the Champions League, albeit on goal difference ahead of Aston Villa.
The Blues, now led by Enzo Maresca, are also awaiting the Conference League final against Real Betis on May 28.
United on the other hand are set for their worst ever season in the Premier League as they current sit 16th on 39 points.
Ruben Amorim’s side can still save their campaign with a trophy though as they meet Spurs in the Europa League final on May 21.
Jose Mourinho’s legendary list of achievements
Porto – 2002 to 2004
- Primeira Liga – 2002/03 and 2003/04
- Champions League – 2003/04
- UEFA Cup – 2002/03
- Taca de Portugal – 2002/03
- Supertaca Candido de Oliveira – 2003
Chelsea – 2004 to 2007
- Premier League – 2004/05 and 2005/06
- FA Cup – 2006/07
- League Cup – 2004/05 and 2006/07
- Community Shield – 2005
Inter Milan – 2008 to 2010
- Serie A – 2008/09 and 2009/10
- Champions League – 2009/10
- Coppa Italia – 2009/10
- Supercoppa Italiana – 2008
Real Madrid – 2010 to 2013
- LaLiga – 2011/12
- Copa del Rey – 2010/11
- Supercopa de Espana – 2012
Chelsea – 2013 to 2015
- Premier League – 2014/15
- League Cup – 2014/15
Manchester United – 2016 to 2018
- Europa League – 2016/17
- League Cup – 2016/17
- Community Shield – 2016
Roma – 2021 to 2024
- Conference League – 2021/22
Notable individual honours – 2000 to present
- Premier League Manager of the Season – 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2014/15
- Serie A Coach of the Year – 2008/09 and 2009/10
- FIFA World Coach of the Year – 2010
- UEFA Manager of the Year – 2002/03 and 2003/04
- Premier League runner-up with Manchester United – 2017/18
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