It was the summer of 2004. Arsenal were the winners of the 2003-04 Premier League Season. It is noteworthy that Arsenal Football Club went unbeaten the entire premier league season and were indeed at the top of their game. Apart from Arsenal FC, Manchester United and Liverpool were the other dominant forces of the Premier League who used to be the major contenders of every single trophy in England.
However then arrived a manager who changed everything. He was none other than Jose Mourinho. Jose Mourinho was a famous name at that time. After all in a span of two years he had led a small club like Porto to Champions League glory.
In his first press conference as a Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho described himself as the special one.
"Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm a European champion and I think I'm a special one," Mourinho said
This press conference gave him the title of the special one. So now the question is that was he a special one?
The answer- Yes. Mourinho led Chelsea to Premier League glory in 2004-05 season. This was Chelsea’s first premier league win in 50 years. Apart from the Premier League trophy Chelsea also lifted the League Cup and went up to the semifinal stage of the 2004-05 Champions League Season wherein they were eliminated by their domestic rival Liverpool F.C. [P.S.- It was a ghost goal].
Chelsea started the 2005-06 season well as they defeated Arsenal 2–1 to win the 2005 FA Community Shield. In this season Chelsea defended their Premier League title and at one stage it appeared that no English club can come close to this club form West London.
In the 2006-07 season Chelsea lifted both the domestic cups [League Cup and F.A. Cup] but failed to win the Premier League trophy. In this season as well Chelsea went up to the semifinal stage wherein they were once again eliminated by their domestic rival Liverpool F.C. in a penalty shootout.
Eventually in September, 2007 Jose Mourinho left the club. But, by now Chelsea were a dominant force in English Football. Mourinho returned back for the second time in 2013. In his second tenure Chelsea lifted the League Cup and the Premier League Trophy in 2014-15 season. However due to a disastrous start in the 2015-16 season Mourinho was sacked in December, 2015.
Today Jose Mourinho manages Roma F.C. But, he will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea
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