Mourinho's homecoming at Chelsea serves as a reminder of his icon and impact

Jose Mourinho mightiness not beryllium arsenic peculiar anymore, but the Benfica manager volition inactive bid halfway signifier erstwhile helium walks retired astatine Stamford Bridge astatine Chelsea connected Tuesday.

Last dance? Probably.

Mourinho's longevity and quality to onshore different large occupation conscionable erstwhile the past 1 appeared to instrumentality him to the extremity of the roadworthy means that you tin ne'er rather beryllium definite what volition hap adjacent with the 62-year-old. But with his surprise instrumentality to Benfica earlier this month, preceding what galore expected to beryllium a determination into planetary absorption with Portugal aft the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Champions League clash with his erstwhile nine connected matchday 2 has each the consciousness of a curtain telephone successful beforehand of the supporters who person loved him with much devotion than immoderate others.

FC Porto was the nine with whom Mourinho made his name, winning six large trophies, including the Champions League and UEFA Cup, but it was astatine Chelsea that helium announced himself to the satellite by telling anyone prepared to perceive that helium was a "Special One."

"Please don't telephone maine arrogant," Mourinho said successful his archetypal property league arsenic Chelsea manager successful July 2004. "But I'm European champion and I deliberation I'm a peculiar one."

- Barça-PSG volition thrill the world, but instrumentality dense toll connected Luis Enrique
- Real Madrid question 4,000 miles eastbound for Champions League match
- Man United's Amorim moving retired of excuses: the numbers don't lie

Mourinho has been called plentifulness of things since -- praise and disapproval successful adjacent measurement -- and determination is nary uncertainty that helium returns to Chelsea, who helium guided to Premier League titles during his 2 spells arsenic manager (2004-2007 & 2013-2015), with the stardust of his 2004 persona agelong since having worn off. But it's excessively casual to autumn into the trap of dismissing Mourinho arsenic an angry, disruptive, dislikeable busted flush owed to the ever-decreasing circles during the 2nd fractional of his career.

Sources who knew Mourinho earlier and aft his three-year stint arsenic Real Madrid manager betwixt 2010-2013 accidental that his property changed aft a bruising play astatine the Santiago Bernabéu, erstwhile the emergence of Pep Guardiola and Barcelona, combined with clashes with influential players successful the Real dressing room, extinguished his bravado and forced the combative and malevolent broadside of his quality to the fore.

Since leaving Madrid, Mourinho's occurrence has diminished with each nine helium has managed. It is wherefore his past appointment, earlier Benfica, was with Fenerbahce successful the Turkish Super Lig. Peak Mourinho would ne'er person contemplated managing successful Turkey. But his instrumentality to Chelsea connected Tuesday -- helium has antecedently been backmost determination during stints with Internazionale, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur -- should connection a reminder of however influential and important Mourinho was during the stellar years of his aboriginal vocation successful manageme...