11/21/24
September 19, 2007
Mourinho Departs from Chelsea: The celebrated manager Jose Mourinho has left his position at Chelsea with immediate effect. Mourinho joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 and led them to the Premiership title in each of his first two seasons.
posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 08:01 PM - 30 comments
Phooey. I liked him. I wonder who they'll replace him with.
posted by blarp at 09:18 PM on September 19, 2007
Sounds like something's wrong at the club. One poor result shouldn't see someone go, especially after he signed a new contract. Anyone know what the tabloids are saying? My son came back from school with this one, though: Q: What three league teams have rude words as part of their names? A: Arsenal, Scunthorpe and Fucking Chelsea.
posted by owlhouse at 09:31 PM on September 19, 2007
The Guardian is reporting differences with Abramovich (expected), including the club refusing to buy a centre half last January and signing Shevchenko and Ballack against Mourinho's wishes (that explains a lot). But I guess you guys in the UK knew all that already.
posted by owlhouse at 10:14 PM on September 19, 2007
Chelsea's loss. Did not see this coming.
posted by worldcup2002 at 10:23 PM on September 19, 2007
georgieB- you took the words out of my mouth- what a shocker. I knew there was some bad blood brewing out of Abramovich (sp?) and Mourinho for some time but figured that the owner would wait until a season was over instead of disrupting the team in the middle/beginning of a season. Owlhouse- got a huge laugh out of that Q & A. I think Abramovich has a fondness for Shevchenko and he is not getting any run at Chelsea. That may be the root of some of the animosity. Does anyone know if Chelsea has signed Lampard to a new contract yet? I have heard he would not renew until he knew what Mourinho's deal was. If he has not signed yet Lampard will be playing for Barcelona or Juventus next season.
posted by urall cloolis at 10:23 PM on September 19, 2007
Hmm with this and Alonso and Agger going down to the dreaded metatarsal, I'm feeling even more bullish about Arsenal's chances now. Sorry, just being a homer.
posted by trox at 10:46 PM on September 19, 2007
I can't believe they dropped Mourinho just before the big game against Man U. As if Sir Alex and Co. needed any more help. Wonder if Lampard will even play this weekend.
posted by worldcup2002 at 10:56 PM on September 19, 2007
Holy guacamole, footy fans! Anyone not think whoever comes in now won't be under even more intense pressure? Who's available now anyway, Lippi or (maybe) Hiddink (though despite Roman having gotten him for Russia he did just lose 3-0 to England)? Wowsers, Batman.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:13 PM on September 19, 2007
The timing's unexpected only in the way that you never know when the rumbling and grumbling of the nearby volcano is going to turn into ash and lava. That's what happens when you have a club owner who treats the squad like a Panini album.
posted by etagloh at 12:25 AM on September 20, 2007
Damn. I hated the guy, but (or maybe slightly because) he was such a good coach. Damn.
posted by chicobangs at 01:53 AM on September 20, 2007
Wow. I don't follow the prem that closely, but that's a shocker. Owl: HAAHA! Love it:) etagloh: And I guarantee the fucker got more cards than I ever did! (Many uncompleted albums sitting in my Dad's attic.)
posted by Drood at 02:05 AM on September 20, 2007
Not a Chelsea fan at all, but Mourinho was good for them. Definitely their loss, regardless of the lackluster results thus far this season.
posted by juv3nal at 02:41 AM on September 20, 2007
I wonder who they'll replace him with.I expect "coaching Chelsea" will be like "coaching England" (rugby or soccer). A job to avoid. Especially since, you know, winning stuff constantly apparently isn't adequte.
posted by rodgerd at 03:15 AM on September 20, 2007
I got the impression that Mourinho was close to quitting (or being nudged out) last season the day of the FA Cup, but the win kept it from happening. This is a shame. As an EPL newbie, one of the first things I picked up a couple of years ago was interest in Mourinho. His tempestuous ego and the whole "Bond, James Bond" mystique attached to the guy were interesting.
posted by rcade at 06:37 AM on September 20, 2007
As a burgeoning fan (my roomie is a footy fanatic) I too am shocked. I had thought that he was going to be a crazed Chelsea manager for decades. And right before the Man U game? Sense make this not does.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:12 AM on September 20, 2007
The new man has been announced already as Israeli Avram Grant, who was director of football at Stamford Bridge. It's expected that he's just keeping the seat warm for Guus Hiddink, as Guus won't be available until Russia either fail to qualify for or are knocked out of Euro 2008.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:27 AM on September 20, 2007
Avram was brought in by Abramovich as director of football (what?). Mourinho had cautioned him to stay out of his business, but I can see now, Avram musta been Abramovich's eyes in the locker room and was another pressure point on Mourinho. Mourinho was never going to win this one, but, hey, looks like he'll get 25 million pounds severance and maybe even coach Portugal. Not a bad way to leave a job, eh?
posted by worldcup2002 at 10:54 AM on September 20, 2007
I wish my last boss was so generous.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:32 AM on September 20, 2007
I think I want to revisit my prior prediction that Chelsea will finish top of the table.
posted by holden at 12:05 PM on September 20, 2007
Steve Bruce for Chelsea! Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaassssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
posted by Fat Buddha at 04:53 PM on September 20, 2007
Dave Bassett's already working up his CV.
posted by owlhouse at 06:21 PM on September 20, 2007
Well this isn't that surprising, considering Chelsea has failed to win the Champions under Mourinho despite an investment in players totalling hundreds of millions of euros. Rumor has it that Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is being considered for the job.
posted by sic at 05:04 PM on September 21, 2007
Isn't he up for every EPL job? The fantastic Guardian podcast was suggesting The Special One take over at Tottenham, now that Ramos seems to have turned them down.
posted by yerfatma at 05:45 PM on September 21, 2007
Amusingly, Abramovich's man doesn't have the appropriate UEFA coaching licenses, which means he may only be able to manage Chelsea for 12 weeks while they find someone else. I don't think the Russians will be out of Eur08 by then.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:43 AM on September 22, 2007
Are you sure that's not intentional? From the sounds of his CV, he's not much of a long-term candidate. It might be a signal to other prospective managers the job is open.
posted by yerfatma at 09:24 AM on September 22, 2007
I don't think anyone bought that he was a long term option anyway. As soon as Grant was mentioned talk went to who he was going to keep the seat warm for, with speculation settling on Hiddink who is in charge of Russia. Chelsea can apply for an exception, but these are usually only handed out in extreme circumstances, so now Grant has gone from not being a long term option to probably not being a short term option either. Of course, Fabio Capello is currently managing his cheque book and his vegetable patch and not much else and he wouldn't be a bad, immediate choice.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:55 PM on September 22, 2007
Spurs bid for Jose Mourinho: "Mourinho's severance package with Chelsea includes a clause which prevents him from joining another Premier League club this season, meaning Martin Jol can sleep a little easier in the knowledge that another potential replacement for his Tottenham job is unavailable."
posted by yerfatma at 01:37 PM on September 22, 2007
How difficult would it be for Grant to get the necessary license in 12 weeks,or be close enough to get an extension?
posted by billsaysthis at 02:34 PM on September 23, 2007
Grant has coached all of one game and has done more bitching and moaning than even Mourinho. Grant furious as Chelsea appeals Wow, talk about a crybaby. Learn to take a loss like a man and get over it. Get the man a pacifier. Paranoid would be an understatement.
posted by urall cloolis at 11:59 AM on September 24, 2007
That's a shocker. How are we going to sing "Sit down Mourinho" now?