Special Mourinho!

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A chant sung to the tune of La Donna E Mobile, made famous by the Manchester United fans as they won their first title in 3 years all the way back in 2007, taking back what they felt was rightfully theirs from a José Mourinho-led Chelsea. In 2007, Real Madrid, unarguably the biggest club in European football embarked on their last La Liga winning campaign.

Mourinho and Madrid got engaged in spectacular fashion last year as the former Inter Milan boss agreed to a four-year deal with Los Blancos and delivered the promise he holds by leading Madrid to their first Copa del Rey victory since 1993. The cherry on top was the fact that they beat Barcelona in the final. This year looks to be an even more “Special One” for the Galacticos as they look to go all the way to the La Liga crown after opening a 10-point gap over the Blaugrana over the weekend, thanks to the gel haired tumbler’s savvy hat-trick.

Cristiano Ronaldo is Mourinho’s poster boy at Madrid, fulfilling the role of a pawn Jose always had in his various armies. It was the famed Deco with Porto, who parted ways when Mourinho went to England and famously managed Chelsea to the most trophy-laden 3 years in the Blues’ history.

You might be right to do the club have? But Didier Drogba, Mourinho’s star player at West London has written his name into some chapters in that tiny book titled, “The History of Chelsea”. At Inter Milan, it was the smartest little Oranje you will ever meet, Wesley Sneijder.

Amazingly, none of these players have been the same after Mourinho. He gets everything and more from his players and that is evident from the number of trophies he has delivered ever since signing for Porto. And maybe the mystery is in how he spoils his players. Ever since he joined Porto he courted controversy more than I’ve courted the missus, and mind you, I’ve been with her for nine years.

Back in 2003, after the Porto-Boavista Derby, he refused to shake hands with then Boavista manager Jaime Pacheco citing “I don’t shake hands with someone I don’t know.” Last year he was busy eye gouging Barcelona’s assistant coach Tito Vilanova during the annual brawl (not read ball, that happens with all the theatrics during the game) called El Clásico.

By doing this the players don’t receive the kind of media attention usually reserved for failed terrorists like Ajmal Kasab. It is there that Mourinho is very much like the Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who is undoubtedly the greatest manager of all time which is why the world views him as a natural successor at the Theatre of Dreams. And anyone seen as the replacement for the Old Trafford legend should not only have his Chin Up, he should feel Special.