Jose Mourinho quit as manager of Chelsea late yesterday, one day
after the club was held to a 1-1 draw by Rosenborg in the European
Champions League.
"Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part
company today by mutual consent," the English team said early today
on it's Website.
The Portuguese coach led Chelsea to two straight English Premier
League titles, and won both the FA Cup and the League Cup during
his tenure. But twice losing in the semifinals of the Champions
League put him at odds with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
The BBC reported that Mourinho sent text messages to five
players Wednesday night to say he was leaving.
Mourinho won the Champions League title with FC Porto in 2004,
and moved to Chelsea the next season. Since his arrival, Abramovich
has spent millions to acquire players with an eye toward winning
the European crown.
The Blues made the semifinals in 2005 and again in 2007, but
lost to Premier League rival Liverpool each time. In 2006, Chelsea
lost to eventual champion FC Barcelona in the second round.
In his first two seasons, Mourinho led Chelsea to two English
league titles, but he failed to make it three straight when
Manchester United won last season.
This season, Chelsea is in fifth place in the English league
with 11 points from six matches, behind both Liverpool and Man
United on goal difference. Arsenal leads the league with 13 points,
one more than Manchester City.
Mourinho, who anointed himself "The Special One" when he arrived
at Chelsea, still had three years left on a contract that
reportedly pays 6.5 million pounds (US$13 million) per year.
Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is among the coaches reportedly
linked with Mourinho's job. Ramos was in London yesterday, where
his team lost to Arsenal 3-0 in the Champions League.
Chelsea's next match is at Man United on Sunday, and assistant
Steve Clarke or director of soccer Avram Grant are expected to take
charge of team.
(Shanghai Daily via Agencies September 20, 2007)
