Born: December 31, 1941
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Birthplace: Govan, Glasgow
Previous Clubs: Aberdeen, St Mirren, East Stirling
Honours: Premiership:2008, 2007, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1994, 1993; FA Cup: 2004, 1999, 1996, 1994, 1990; League Cup: 2006, 1992; League Cup 2006; FA Charity Shield: 1997, 1996, 1994, 1993, 1990, 2003; Scottish Premier League: 1985, 1984, 1980; Scottish First Division: 1977; Scottish FA Cup: 1986, 1984, 1983, 1982; Scottish League Cup: 1986; UEFA Champions League: 2008, 1999; UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1991, 1983; European Super Cup: 1983, 1991; Inter-Continental Club Cup: 1999
[Contributed by Mwaibong Deya, the administrator on WWW.MANUTDFANZ.NING.COM a social networking site dedicated to all Manchester united fans by fellow Manchester united fans, COME JOIN US .ONE GAME. ONE UNITED]
Like so many of football's top managers, Alexander Chapman Ferguson emerged from humble beginnings.
Sir Alex Ferguson: United boss
Famed for being the most successive manager in Premier League history, Fergie is viewed as the best boss in the country after an incredible two decades in charge of Manchester United and has won the respect of everyone in the game.
The feisty Scot took the plunge into management with East Stirling in July 1974 and quickly made a name for himself in Stirlingshire, securing a move to First Division side St Mirren in October of the same year. He promptly guided the Paisley club to the championship in 1976/77 and despite doing so on limited resources; Ferguson was sacked three years into his tenure after a disagreement with the club's chairman.
St Mirren's loss turned into Aberdeen's gain and after rejecting interest from a number of Scotland's larger clubs Fergie eventually signed for the Dons in August 1978.
He transformed an average side into the form team of the 1980s, breaking The Old Firm (Rangers and Celtic) stranglehold on Scottish football, and led the Granite City club to three league titles, four Scottish Cups and a League Cup in eight seasons.
But despite the domestic haul of silverware, Ferguson's greatest achievement with the Pittodrie club came in 1983 when he led Aberdeen to a 2-1 victory over the mighty Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners' Cup - to date the last time a Scottish team has lifted a European trophy.
He rejected lucrative offers from Barcelona, Arsenal, Rangers and Tottenham to take control of Manchester United on November 7, 1986 and initially appeared to have left his success in Scotland.
Despite the derisive chants Ferguson was rebuilding the club in minute detail. He had revamped the youth system, a move that would pay huge dividends a few years down the line, and he had stamped out the drinking culture at Old Trafford by shipping out many of the crowd's favourites.
The loss of these boozy players initially had a detrimental effect on the pitch and in January 1990, with United languishing at the wrong end of the table after losing 5-1 to arch-rivals Manchester City, Fergie's job was on the line as United went into a Third Round FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.
If United lost it would mean the end for Ferguson, although Chairman Martin Edwards has always denied it, but with things looking bleak for the Scot and time ticking away Mark Robins came off the substitute's bench to give United a narrow 1-0 win and save Fergie's skin.
That victory marked a turning point in fortunes for Ferguson and the Red Devils went on a winning streak that saw them lift the FA Cup with a 1-0 replay victory over Crystal Palace.
The following season United satisfied their taste for triumph by winning the European Cup Winners' Cup with a 2-1 victory over Barcelona. But the League Championship, which United had last won in 1967, remained elusive.
The following year saw the Premier League break away from the century old Football League to form the Premiership and the launch of the new look league coincided with an era of Manchester United dominance under the stewardship of Ferguson.
After an average start to the 1992/93 campaign, November saw the unexpected arrival of Eric Cantona at Old Trafford from Leeds and the Frenchman's enigmatic play proved to be the final piece of the Ferguson jigsaw. United finally won the Championship, ahead of nearest rivals Aston Villa, and ended a 26-year drought.
The 1993/94 season saw the £3.5million arrival of Roy Keane at Old Trafford and also saw United stamp their authority on English football as Ferguson claimed his first Double - beating Blackburn Rovers to the League Championship and crushing Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final.
The following term saw Blackburn Rovers bounce back to narrowly beat the Red Devils to the Championship, leaving Ferguson and Co trophyless. With United seemingly smarting from defeat they charged through the 1995/96 season to grab another Double and narrowly miss out on an unprecedented treble with defeat in the League Cup final.
“ You'll win nothing with kids ”
Alan Hansen
The manager had introduced 'Fergie's Fledglings' - David Beckham, the Neville Brothers, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs - to replace experienced players such as Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis at the start of the campaign to much raising of eyebrows.
Defeat on the opening day of the season prompted TV pundit Alan Hansen's to say: 'you'll win nothing with kids', but those words came back to haunt him as 'Fergie's Fledglings' helped United overhaul Newcastle United's 14 point lead at the top of the table.
A fourth League Championship in five season's followed during the 1996/97 season and with Champions League football becoming a consistent feature, Ferguson's infamous hunger had set it's sights on the lifting the 'Holy Grail' - the European Cup.
Coming second to Arsenal domestically the following year prompted Ferguson to part with £23million for defender Jaap Stam and Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke to strengthen his squad for the 1998/99 season. The latter combined with strike partner Andy Cole to produce what was dubbed 'calypso football' and helped fire United to another League Championship, a 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Newcastle and a European Cup final.
In the final, Bayern Munich took a 1-0 lead inside Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium but as the match entered injury time supersubs Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a goal apiece in injury time to make Fergie's side Champions of Europe with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory.
Fergie added the League and FA Cup for an unequalled treble and was subsequently knighted - becoming Sir Alex Ferguson in the Queen's birthday honours list as a reward for his services to British football.
The following year Ferguson announced he would retire at the end of the 2001/02 season - just as the FA Cup holders controversially withdrew from the competition to take part in FIFA's World Club Championship in Brazil.
United didn't do very well in the Brazilian sunshine but the break proved to be just the tonic for Sir Alex's side, who romped to another Premiership title - beating rivals Arsenal by 18 clear points.
The 2000/01 season saw United cruise to another title, this time wrapping it up in mid-April, as Ferguson became the first manager to win three English League titles in a row to become the most successful manager in the history of English football.
To prepare for his final season at Old Trafford Ferguson splashed out nearly £50million on striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron but the big money signings couldn't prevent Arsenal from stealing the domestic silverware of the Premiership title and FA Cup and the Red Devils ended the season trophyless.
Fergie holds the European Cup aloft in 1999 to complete an historic treble.
The setback stung Ferguson into postponing his retirement, he signed a new three-year deal, and the Scot appointed former Portugal and South Africa coach Carlos Queiroz as his new assistant at Old Trafford. He also smashed the British transfer record to land defender Rio Ferdinand from Leeds for the 2002/03 season.
Domestically the Red Devils were dumped out of the FA Cup in the Fifth Round by rivals Arsenal but with only weeks of the season left United had the last laugh after destroying the Gunners' nine point lead at the top of the league to lift their eighth title in 11 years.
In the summer of 2003 the much mooted clear-out occurred: David Beckham joined Real Madrid for £25million; Sebastian Veron went to Chelsea for £15million and in April Fabian Barthez moved to Marseille on a free transfer. In came goalkeeper Tim Howard, Sporting Lisbon starlet Cristiano Ronaldo and the hideously misjudged purchases of David Bellion, Eric Djemba-Djemba and World Cup winner Kleberson.
Arch-rivals Arsenal went through the entire 2003/04 campaign unbeaten to regain the Premiership title and upset Fergie and his squad in an incident dubbed 'pizza-gate'. When a fracas continued down the tunnel, Fergie was apparently splattered with pizza, although the culprit has never been found.
Manchester United's only success of the season proved to be the regulation 3-0 FA Cup final win over First Division side Millwall. Although Ferguson had managed to land a trophy it was the wrong one. The title was with Arsenal and Jose Mourinho's FC Porto had ousted United from the Champions League.
Ferguson had to prove he could still cut it in season 2004/05 and the canny Scot announce it would be a campaign of transition as he began construction of yet another team.
The arrival of £29million teen sensation Wayne Rooney from Everton was a good start, but losing to Chelsea on the opening day of the season was not. Already three points behind the eventual Premiership champions, United never managed to claw it back and ended the campaign 18 points behind the Blues in third place.
2005/06 wouldn't hold much more for United as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Benfica, by Liverpool in the FA Cup and finished eight points behind Chelsea in the Premiership. They would pick up some silverware however, defeating Wigan 4-0 in the Carling Cup Final.
Still, the Scot answered his critics by winning his ninth Premeirship title in 2006/07 with a team still in transition, beating Chelsea by six points and scooping the FA Premier League Manager of the Year award along the way.
In the summer Ferguson added more youth players to his developing team in Carlos Tevez, Anderson, Nani and Owen Hargreaves as the United manager built his third new team at Old Trafford.
And it worked. Coming from behind to win the Premier League in the latter half of the season, Fergie also picked up his second Champions League trophy after defeating Chelsea on penalties in Moscow.
With much talk over his impending retirement, United will ultimately look to replace the irreplaceable. Although it will be an unenviable task for whoever steps into Fergie's shoes. Let us try to see some of the likely candidates that may replace the MASTER of the game of the world.
Martin O'Neill
Born: March 1, 1952
Archive:
Birthplace: Kilrea, Co Derry, Northern Ireland
Previous Clubs: Wycombe, Leicester, Celtic
Honours: FA Trophy: 1991, 1992; Bob Lord Challenge Trophy 1992, Promotion to Football League from Vauxhall Conference 1992; Promotion to Division Two [now League One] 1993; Promotion to Premier League 1995; League Cup 1996, 2000; League Cup Runners Up 1997; Scottish Premier League Winner 2001, 2002, 2004; Scottish Cup Winner 2001, 2004, 2005; UEFA Cup Runners Up 2003.
[Contributed by Mwaibong Deya, the administrator on WWW.MANUTDFANZ.NING.COM a social networking site dedicated to all Manchester united fans by fellow Manchester united fans,COME JOIN US. ONE GAME ONE UNITED]
Because what he has done with Celtics, and the good work that he is doing at Aston Villa. Martin O’neill cannot be ignored for consideration should the job at Oldtrafford become available. You come with me as we x-ray the careers of the possible contenders.
Martin O'Neill has quickly become one of the most popular managers in the game. After years of success, turning Leicester from relegation candidates to regular European challengers and winning silverware with Glasgow Celtic, the likeable Irishman has now won admirers at Villa Park.
O'Neill: Everybody's favourite.
After a 15 month absence from football, spent taking care of his ill wife Geraldine, O'Neill is looking to build on the success that has seen his name frequently linked as a long term replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. Such is the respect he carries in the game.
Known for his charisma and passionate outbursts from the touchline, Villa have got themselves a diamond.
After a succession of managers since the departure of Brian Little in 1998, the Birmingham based side were languishing in mid-table obscurity before O'Neill's arrival.
Talk of revolt, statements from the first team squad criticising the chairman Doug Ellis and the eventual sacking of previous manager David O'Leary did not made O'Neill's takeover the smoothest in history, yet it did not affect him and after a tough first year, he led Villa to 6th in the League in 2007/08.
O'Neill's playing career started as a trainee at Derry City and he soon caught the eye of Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, who signed the midfielder in 1971.
After a highly successful spell under Clough, in which he won consecutive European Cup's in 1979 and 1980, as well as winning the league in 1978, O'Neill went on to play briefly for Norwich, Man City, Notts County, Chesterfield and Fulham before hanging up his boots and entering the world of football management.
In 1987 O'Neill began his managerial career at lowly Grantham Town. He soon moved to Shepsed Charter House, but it was in 1990 that he got his first real break.
Appointed as manager of non-league Wycombe Wanderers he first showed his potential by helping the club to two FA Trophy triumphs and winning promotion to the Football League in the 1992-93 season. The club were riding on the crest of a wave and earned a second successive promotion (to what is now known as League One) before O'Neill left the club to manage Division One side Norwich City.
A very short spell with the Canaries was ended before it began however, after O'Neill clashed with Chairman Robert Chase over transfer funds and swiftly left in 1995.
Later the same year, O'Neill's fortunes would change again and he would land himself the job that would transform his managerial prospects- arriving at Leicester City.
In his first season with the Foxes, after installing a dogged determination in the team with the purchases of Robbie Savage, Muzzie Izzet and Neil Lennon in midfield, the team were promoted to Division One.
The next year, O'Neill enhanced his already increasing reputation by not only keeping the club in the top flight, but winning the League Cup as well! Continuing his revolution at Filbert Street, the Irishman took the club to the League Cup Final again in 1999, losing out to Tottenham, but returning to win the Cup again in 2000.
By now O'Neill had made his name by delivering four-successive top-ten finishes for a club many thought would be fighting relegation, and other clubs had begun to court him.
When Celtic came calling, O'Neill found the opportunity too good to turn down and in his first season O'Neill delivered the treble! The League, League Cup and Scottish Cup (the equivalent to the FA Cup) were all given a new home at Parkhead and O'Neill was made an instant hero.
A second League victory came in O'Neill's next season and the following season he guided Celtic to the UEFA Cup Final where they were beaten in extra time by Jose Mourinho's FC Porto side. O'Neill delivered yet more silverware in the form of a League and Cup double the year, and even picked up his own in the form of an OBE in 2004. By now he had established Celtic as the dominant force in Scottish football.
But in 2005, he announced his decision to take a break from football to care for his sick wife and signed off from Parkhead with a third Scottish Cup victory in five years.
From the moment he left Celtic, his name was regularly mentioned when big jobs became available in English football and he was interviewed for the post of England manager, although was never offered the job.
Taking over the manager's role at Aston Villa in 2006, he was attracted by the recent takeover of the club by American billionaire Randy Lerner. With a decent transfer budget to spend, O'Neill began the season with a run of nine games without defeat.
Finishing the year in 11th, the following 2007/08 season would be where he really made his mark. Playing a brand of exciting attacking football, Villa finished in 6th and only narrowly missed out on UEFA Cup football.
Gaining plaudits from many in the League, O'Neill's next task is to use his experience to shape the team into consistent European contenders.
VERDICT: The attacking football that Aston Villa is known for looks like a replica of what Manchester United is known for globally. When the time comes, he will surely be one of the top contenders. The way he handled the Gareth Barry transfer saga has further endeared this man to the fans as a manager can be in control of the big players just like Sir Alex Ferguson.
Mark Hughes
Club: Manchester City
Appointed: 04/ 06/ 2008
Date of Birth: 01/ 11/ 1963
Previous Clubs: Wales
VERDICT: [contributed by Mwaibong Deya, the administrator on WWW.MANUTDFANZ.NING.COM a social networking site dedicated to all Manchester united fans by fellow Manchester United fans,COME JOIN US. ONE GAME. ONE UNITED]
After an illustrious playing career at clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea, Mark Hughes initially moved into management with Wales in 1999.
As Welsh manager, Hughes brought great success. Although they did not qualify for any major tournaments during his time in charge, they came close, after narrowly missing out on a place in Euro 2004 after a controversial Play-Off with Russia. Hughes also guided his team to a famous 2-1 victory against Italy at the Millenium Stadium in 2002.
Hughes was installed as favourite to take charge at Blackburn Rovers as soon as Graeme Souness resigned in order to become manager of Newcastle United.
He spent two years as a player at Ewood Park under Souness after joining Rovers from Everton in October 2000. He scored 6 goals in 50 Premiership appearances for the club before ending his playing days in May 2002.
His first season as Rovers boss, however, proved a trying one, as they finished 15th with only 42 points. He did, however, achieve the primary goal - keeping the team in the Barclays Premiership. He even managed to steer Rovers to the FA Cup semi-finals, but lost 3-0 to eventual winners Arsenal.
After establishing himself in his first campaign he really stepped up to the plate in 05/06, ensuring Blackburn stayed a top six pretty much throughout the season and finishing the campaign with a UEFA Cup spot.
Hughes and his team did not enjoy the same success in the 2006/07 season though. With European as well as domestic commitments, Blackburn struggled to build up the same consistancy as they did in the previous campaign.
A good run in the UEFA Cup was impressive, as was their progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. In 2007/08, they had a brief run in the UEFA Cup and finished seventh in the league, but Hughes left in the summer to take up the manager's job at Manchester City.
VERDICT: Many football analysts think Mark Hughes movement to Man City is just a step towards life in the hot seat of British footballs biggest football club. Having learnt under the tutelage of the game’s best manager, am sure he will is also a big contender should the job at Oldtrafford become available. Although, luring a coach from big spending Manchester City will not be an easy task, but I feel his loyalty will be to the Red Devils rather than to the city sky Blues. Name: Roy Maurice Keane
Born: Cork, Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Position: Central Midfield
DOB: 10/8/1971
Current Club: Celtic
VERDICT: [contributed by Mwaibong Deya, the administrator on WWW.MANUTDFANZ.NING.COM a social networking site dedicated to all Manchester united fans by fellow Manchester united fans,COME JOIN US. ONE GAME.ONE UNITED]
Quite simply the most controversial footballer in Britain, who better to succeed Eric Cantona as the hub of Manchester United.
Keane struggled to settle in initally, finding himself behind Paul Ince and Bryan Robson. However when both left the club, Keane seized the opportunity and became the central cog in United's team and was made club captain when Eric Cantona left Old Trafford. When he was out through a serious knee injury during the 97/98 season, Ferguson said that his abscence was one of the main reasons behind the team's failure to win the league.
The summer of 2002 was a bad one in many ways for Keane. It started with the indignity of seeing Arsenal win the Barclaycard Premiership at Old Trafford and United end the season empty-handed. He was then sent home from the World Cup after a row with Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, and things got even worse with the release of his explosive autobiography.
His revelation that he intended to hurt Alfie Haaland in the 2001 Manchester derby at Old Trafford outraged the footballing world and he was eventually given a hefty ban and fine by the FA. By then, he had already been ruled out for months for a hip operation, and it was Christmas before he was back in action.
The phrase 'heart on his sleeve' was made for Roy Keane. The Football Writers' and the Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year for the 1999/2000 is United's natural midfield successor to Bryan Robson.
Despite this reckless edge, Roy Keane remained the heartbeat of Manchester United and any side in Europe would covet his talents. By the start of the 2003/04 season he had played 393 games for the club, scoring 46 goals.
A player that can do it all, with simplicity and determination the key to his game.
In 2005, after two disappointing seasons, and numerous injuries, Keane vented his frustrations at both, his teammates and his club. Interestingly, that interview, which was to be broadcasted on MUTV, a subsidiary of Manchester United, was edited out.
Three weeks after that, Roy Keane mutually left Manchester United to move onto a different horizon.
Career History:
2005 Celtic
Free
2005
Left Manchester United midway
1993 Manchester United
£3.75m
1990 Nottingham Forest
£10000
1989 Cobh Rambler
Youth
________________________________________
Honours
1994
English Premier League
English FA Cup
1996
English Premier League
English FA Cup
1997
English Premier League
1999
English Premier League
English FA Cup
UEFA Champions League
Intercontinental Cup
2000
English Premier League
English League Footballer of the Year
2001
English Premier League
2003
English Premier League
2004
English FA Cup
VERDICT: [contributed by Mwaibong Deya, the administrator on WWW.MANUTDFANZ.NING.COM a social networking site dedicated to all Manchester united fans by fellow Manchester united fans,COME JOIN US.ONE GAME .ONE UNITED] One of Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson’s most important signing’s apart from Eric Cantona, although he departed Oldtrafford in controversial circumstances, but all those controversies can be attributed to his passionate love for the Club he gave his all. Should be considered when the job becomes available. Jose Mourinho
Born: January 26, 1963
Archive:
Birthplace: Setubal, Portugal
Previous Clubs: FC Porto, Uniao de Leiria, Benfica
Honours: Champions League: 2004; UEFA Cup: 2003; English Championship: 2005, 2006; English League Cup: 2005; FA Community Shield: 2005; Portuguese Championship: 2003, 2004; Portuguese Cup: 2003
[Contributed by Mwaibong Deya, the administrator on WWW.MANUTDFANZ.NING.COM a social networking site dedicated to all Manchester united fans by fellow Manchester united fans,COME JOIN US.ONE GAME. ONE UNITED]
Under Roman Abramovich, Chelsea want the best personnel in all areas - and usually they get their man.
Bobby Robson and Mourinho as Barcelona take on Hercules in January 1997
When searching for a new manager it was clear they weren't going to settle for anything other than the best - and, according to the man they appointed, that's what they got.
Mourinho is the self-titled 'Special One'.
His rise from being a mere translator to managing the richest club in the world has been nothing short of meteoric.
Despite his father Felix having represented the Portuguese national team as a goalkeeper, Mourinho never played professionally and instead, from a relatively young age, focused his sights on a coaching career.
He had held low-profile positions at Estrela Amadora and Vitoria Setubal before taking his first high-profile role in football in 1992 when appointed to work under Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon.
Mourinho initially worked as a translator to Robson, but he turned out to be much more than a linguist. From an early age he had been fascinated by football tactics and impressed by his attention to detail, work ethic and passion, Bobby Robson would give him increasingly more responsibility with the first team.
His tactical insight soon became apparent and he gradually became more involved in team affairs, impressing in the training sessions which he took.
Mourinho had clearly caught Robson's attention, who had a feeling that Jose would make it to the top one day: 'What struck me about Mourinho was that he was a student of football. He was very intelligent, enthusiastic and was very keen to learn.
'He never said to me that he wanted to be a head coach, but I had a feeling that one day he would go a long way in the game. He had great confidence in his own ability.'
And when Robson moved on to Porto in 1993, it was no surprise that he took his good friend and colleague with him; Mourinho duly became his assistant manager. The Robson and Mourinho partnership began to click. In three years at Porto, they clinched two titles.
The Robson-Mourinho combo moved on to Barcelona in 1996, where they won a pair of Spanish Cups (1997 and 1998) and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1997. However, the Nou Camp was to be the last staging post for the partnership.
In 1998 Robson received an offer from PSV Eindhoven that was too good to refuse - and instead of following his tutor to another new club, Mourinho decided to change his arm away from Robson and stayed on at Barca in a coaching capacity, this time under new manager Louis Van Gaal.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho
However, under the Dutchman Mourinho's days were numbered and he was forced out of the job as Van Gaal tried, unsuccessfully, to re-unite the coaching team that had led Ajax to so much success.
Mourinho did not have long to wait before landing his first full managerial post, when he was appointed Benfica boss in 2000. But his reign was shortlived, lasting only nine games before he resigned due to problems in the boardroom.
Despite being able to boast that he had been involved with Portugal's top three teams (Sporting, Porto and Benfica), the experience was not one Mourinho enjoyed.
Of course, Mourinho's considerable ambition and drive meant that he wasn't going to be out of a job for long, and within months of taking a new job in 2001 he had taken perennial strugglers Uniao de Leiria into fourth place and into Europe.
Porto took note of the young manager's talents, and when their top job became available after a poor start to the 2002/03 season it was immediately offered to Mourinho, who jumped at the chance to have a crack at the league title with a talented squad.
They recovered from their poor start to finish third, with Mourinho putting in place the ingredients for what would be a phenomenal first full season at the helm.
Mourinho's team, full of pace, power, and attacking flair (exemplified by midfielder Deco), was supremely organized and stormed to the league title, the domestic cup, and a dramatic win in the UEFA Cup final over Martin O'Neill's Celtic.
It was a truly remarkable achievement, and Mourinho was heralded across Europe as a genius - his stock had risen to unprecedented levels, and Tottenham allegedly tried to take him from the Estadio Del Drago.
However, the now fearless Mourinho had unfinished business with Porto; he was determined to win the Champions League. Season 2003/04 inevitably yielded more success - Porto retained their league title but, of course, the outstanding success was their clinching of the European Cup after a 3-0 victory against Monaco.
Their journey to the final included some memorable scalps, notably Manchester United, after which Sir Alex Ferguson and Mourinho exchanged insults in an unpleasant touchline altercation. The two seemed to have since settled their differences however.
Of course when, inevitably, Chelsea came calling in May 2004, Mourinho realized he had taken Porto as far as he could go, and jumped at the chance to take on one of Europe's most challenging (and best paid) jobs.
He has an eye for a good player as exemplified by the team that he built at Porto, on a relatively small budget (Costinha, Ferreira and Carvalho were all bargains considering the success they brought).
Mourinho: Likes the mind games
His man management skills are sound, having been tested by the likes of Derlei and Benni McCarthy, and he generally gets on well with the media despite his touch of arrogance.
Mourinho's teams are based on immaculate preparation and organization - the man himself is apparently the first into work everyday and the last home. He is totally dedicated to and obsessed by his job, and with the money at his disposal at Chelsea, the rest of England, and indeed Europe, should be warned.
He knows how to win the Champions League and make no mistake, this man is incredibly confident that he will be successful and he will be ruthless in his pursuit of trophies.
Mourinho has shown, like his predecessor Claudio Ranieri, that he's unafraid to make full use of Abramovich cheque book. With Arsenal and Manchester United looking on anxiously, and helplessly, as Mourinho swooped for old friends Ferreira and Carvalho from Porto.
Also on his shopping list, the signing of two-season wonder Didier Drogba was clinched, as was the less-pricey but nonetheless talented Mateja Kezman. Tiago also arrived from Portugal, as did Morais.
Two 'pre-arranged' transfers saw to the arrivals of Euro 2004 stars Petr Cech and Arjen Robben - youngsters to add to Chelsea's embarrassment of riches in the youth department.
Many players were shifted out on loan or given free transfers, as Mourinho has elected to have, with mathematical precision typical of the man, a first-team squad of 24 players.
His solid start to the 2004/05 season suggested to many that he's here primarily to win games, and secondarily to entertain the crowd. A sequence of 1-0 victories to open the season was criticized, but Mourinho always remained single minded in his approach.
Chelsea lost only one Premiership match, and that being to a disputed penalty at Manchester City. They won the Premiership title by 12 points from Arsenal.
Added to that, they won the Carling Cup final against Liverpool after extra-time.
But Rafael Benitez's men got their revenge for that defeat in the Champions League semi-finals. Yet again it was a controversial goal which eliminated the Blues, with Luis Garcia's shot adjudged to have crossed the line despite the desperate attempts of William Gallas to clear.
It was the only goal of the game and Mourinho refuses to acknowledge it was indeed a goal.
Playing the increasingly popular 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation, Chelsea wingers pushed forward with speed in support of the lone striker to great effect. It brought a new angle on the argument against playing just one man up front.
Despite the glittering success of the season on the pitch, Mourinho and Chelsea had numerous run-ins with the authorities.
The most high-profile case came with the Ashley Cole 'tapping-up' affair. Mourinho, along with club officials, had a series of meetings with the Arsenal defender at a London hotel and led to player, manager and club being charged by the Football Association.
It was the beginning of a breakdown in relations Gunners boss Arsene Wenger which would result in a long-running public feud.
Then there was the row with Liverpool fans, who he had given the 'hush' sign during their Carling Cup final success.
Mourinho also hit trouble in the Champions League, when he alleged that Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard had visited Swedish referee Anders Frisk at half-time during the first leg of their tie at the Nou Camp in February.
UEFA accused Chelsea of making false declarations and 'deliberately creating a poisoned and negative ambience' after they refused to attend the post-match news conference and submitted a report detailing their allegations.
The referee then received death threats from Chelsea fans and announced his retirement from refereeing. UEFA's head of refereeing Volker Roth described Mourinho as an 'enemy of football'.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger turns the other cheek to Mourinho
At the hearing, Mourinho was handed a two-match touchline ban and a fine of around £9,000, which Chelsea was fined around £45,000.
Despite the controversy surrounding Mourinho, he continued to have a good rapport with the press, for the most part. Always willing to produce a soundbite for the thronged media men he was a dream for the tabloids.
Mourinho furthered strengthened ahead of 2005/06, adding Shaun Wright-Phillips, Asier Del Horno and Michael Essien to an already hugely talented squad.
Chelsea started the season on fire, winning their first ten games before hitting something of a blip in October. First they were held to a 1-1 draw by rock-bottom Everton before going out on penalties to Charlton Athletic in the League Cup. They then lost to Real Betis in the Champions League.
And to top the disappointing spell, they were then defeat 1-0 by a beleaguered Manchester United at Old Trafford to bring to an end their 40-match unbeaten Premiership run.
It was around this time that Wenger's spat with the Chelsea boss really began to gather momentum. First Mourinho called Wenger a 'voyeur' due to his alleged obsession with the champions.
Then Wenger hit back by threatening to take legal action against his opposite number. But it didn't end there as Mourinho claimed he had a 120-page dossier listing all the derogatory comments made against his club.
Mourinho attempted to calm matters by offering to apologise - if Wenger did so exactly at the same time. It was an invitation which was never likely to be accepted.
That prompted the League Managers' Association to call for a truce. Wenger simply said he would not be gagged, meaning the war of words is never likely to be healed.
Chelsea ran out Premiership winners by 8 points at the end of 2006, but their Champions League hopes were dashed by a re-match with old rivals Barcelona who got revenge for their previous loss over the two legs amid more controversy- this time involving Lionel Messi and a red card for left-back Asier Del Horno.
Determined to banish the ghosts of the past, Del Horno has already been sold to Valencia this season and Ashley Cole has been brought in from Arsenal. Although Mourinho was less than happy about having to part with William Gallas in exchange. It's been a summer of departure for Mourinho, choosing to offload the unhappy Hernan Crespo, Glen Johnson, Robert Huth, Damien Duff and Jiri Jarosik.
But 2006/07 has also seen Mourinho add £50 million worth of talent to his already impressive squad with Andrei Shevchenko, Salomen Kalou, John Obi Mikel, Hilario, Khalid Boulahrouz and Ashley Cole arriving at the Bridge.
Despite their wealth, Chelsea stuttured and the £30million Shevchenko in particular proved to be a flop.
With boardroom quarrels spilling over into the media, Mourinho's future looked bleak as his big spending backer began to question his results. Manchester United wrestled the Premiership title away from Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2006/07 season, but Mourinho was able to get some revenge and appease his boss by beating United in the FA Cup final and then Arsenal in the Carling Cup final.
Two trophies would be considered a lot at most clubs, but without the Premiership title, and losing (again) to Liverpool in the Champions League, Mourinho is never far from danger.
The 2007/08 season began well, having been unconventionally stingy in the transfer window. Bringing in Florent Malouda from Lyon at £13.5million, while Alex, Steven Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim came in for free, and the Blues went to the top of the league.
Under Mourinho, the club set a new English record for unbeaten league matches at home in August 2007 as their 64 consecutive matches beat the record held previously by Liverpool for an unbeaten run between 1978 and 1981.
Mourinho is currently the most successful manager in Chelsea's history having won six trophies in three years, but his situation has never looked comfortable in the pressure cooker of the club.
Mourinho himself has stated that there would only be two ways for him to leave Chelsea: if Chelsea do not offer him a new contract in June 2010, and if Chelsea sacks him. But failure to improve upon last season's haul may just result in the latter happening sooner than expected. VERDICT:[contributed by Mwaibong Deya, the administrator on WWW.MANUTDFANZ.NING.COM a social networking site dedicated to all Manchester united fans by fellow Manchester united fans,COME JOIN US.ONE GAME.ONE UNITED] It is not possible these days not to consider THE SPECIAL ONE whenever a job at any big football club becomes available, Jose Mourinho is a coach who loves to win always; that is the mentality at Oldtrafford also. With the special one, the winning mentality at Oldtrafford will not be lost. Although his style of play might not appeal to the fans, the attacking football is the brand at United, but I think he will be considered becau se of his personality, and I also think Sir Alex Ferguson likes him also.
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