Dubbed "The Special One," Jose Mourinho has been considered one of soccer's best managers for over a decade. This season, his magic ran out, as Mourinho mutually parted ways with Chelsea after a miserable start to the season. Chelsea has just 15 points in its 16 matches of league play.
Reuters obtained a picture of a distraught Mourinho covering his head with a hoody as he left Chelsea's Cobham, Surrey training ground near London.
Mourinho led Chelsea to a Premier League title one season ago. The manager was in his third season of his second stint with Chelsea. Mourinho, who previously managed Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, has won two Champions League titles and reached the semifinals of the Champions League eight times. He was making roughly $17 million a year at Chelsea.
Mourinho went out in a blaze of glory, throwing his players under the bus after his final match, a 2-1 loss Monday to table-leader Leicester City. He told a reporter, "I feel my work has been betrayed." Mourinho also claimed star Eden Hazard "made the decision himself" to leave the pitch after a supposed injury, which Mourinho denied actually being an injury.
On last season's Premier League title, Mourinho said he lifted the players "to a level that is not their level, that is more than they really are." Despite the flood in the loss column, Mourinho would not go down without defending his own reputation.
Mourinho's great quotes will continue to draw attention for awhile. In a preview for a BT Sport interview with Mourinho that will air tonight, he tells Clare Balding, "I've learned this season …I 'm better than I thought."
Jose joined me last week for what now seems a rather poignant interview. It’s on tonight BT Sport1 8pm
https://t.co/gvmupgOWP5 #JoseMourinho
— Clare Balding (@clarebalding) December 17, 2015
Mourinho is now on the job market, a rare occurrence. With Jürgen Klinsmann's future as U.S. National Team manager in flux, the Internet is wasting no time spreading Mourinho rumors, including some to MLS.
Let the #Jose4USA rumors begin pic.twitter.com/Tq2xfovMQD
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 17, 2015
The "Special One" has been #sacked and replaced by #GuusHiddink. Next stop #MLS or #USMNT? #Chelsea #JoseMourinho pic.twitter.com/GCGHQppcWd
— Betiply (@betiply) December 17, 2015
In a statement, Chelsea said:
"The club wishes to make clear Jose leaves us on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea. His legacy at Stamford Bridge and in England has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge."
In reality, it will probably take some time before Mourinho can come back to a warm reception at Chelsea. At the very least, he should wait for his current players to move on to other teams.
-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.
