Chelsea and legendary manager José Mourinho are set for a major reunion at Stamford Bridge as they clash in the UEFA Champions League against Benfica. Mourinho famously managed Chelsea in two spells, both of which ended with him being sacked following tensions with the management and, at times, the players. Perhaps this fiery personality is why he earned the nickname “The Special One.”
Mourinho started coaching Chelsea in June 2004, shortly after miraculously leading FC Porto to a Champions League trophy. During his first stint, he won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and one Community Shield before being sacked in 2007 by “mutual consent.” However, it wasn’t really mutual — Mourinho reportedly clashed with then-club owner Roman Abramovich over interference with his signings. In the end, he lost the power tussle but won the hearts of Chelsea fans, who saw him as the architect of the club’s rise to powerhouse status.
Mourinho is also known for having built the squad that won Chelsea’s 2011–12 Champions League, even though he was no longer at the helm. He signed several players who contributed to that victory, including goalkeeper Petr Čech, striker Didier Drogba from Marseille, and the calm, composed midfielder Mikel Obi. It’s no wonder many of his former signings still refer to him as “dad.”
His second stint from 2013–2015 was also notable, as he won the Premier League and the League Cup before being sacked in 2015, with Chelsea hovering just above the relegation zone despite being reigning champions. Now, Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge, ironically coaching Benfica, where he had a brief coaching stint as an assistant manager before his breakout at FC Porto. Both Benfica and Chelsea will be looking to win their UCL games on Tuesday, 30th September, with Benfica having drawn their first UCL game while Chelsea lost to Bayern. It's going to be an amazing game with José.