With David Moyes set to take up over at Old Trafford, the way is clear for José Mourinho to return to Chelsea. Many United fans might have preferred Mourinho to come to United, but Moyes is clearly Sir Alex Ferguson’s favoured successor and will offer the stability the club rightly emphasises.
With David Moyes set to take up over at Old Trafford, the way is clear for José Mourinho to return to Chelsea. Many United fans might have preferred Mourinho to come to United, but Moyes is clearly Sir Alex Ferguson’s favoured successor and will offer the stability the club rightly emphasises.
Managerial stability has not been a feature of life at Chelsea with nine managers (including the current ‘interim manager’) since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003. Under the ‘special one’ from 2004 to 2007, Chelsea experienced their most successful period in the club’s history, winning the Premier League twice, the FA Cup and the League Cup twice.
However, bringing Mourinho back to the Bridge may not be plain sailing. The buyout clause in his contract is giving concern, even though Abramovich paid Porto £13.2m to secure the services of André Villas-Boas who secured a win rate of 47 per cent, the worse of any of Abramovich’s managers (Mourinho got 67 per cent).
The buyout clause in the three-year contract extension Mourinho signed at Real Madrid last summer is believed to be £20m, although it is only applicable if he leaves during the season. Post-season departures are a matter for negotiation.
There is also an issue about his backroom staff to whom Mourinho is very loyal. However, there is a view at the club that last time it led to a ‘them and us’ culture at the training ground. His staff were seen as intransigent and as exacerbating conflicts in the club’s hierarchy.
That is not to say that any of these issues are insurmountable. The handover at United does present a window of opportunity for Chelsea to reassert themselves. Moyes is very capable and undoubtedly the best British choice for the job, but transitions can be unsettling, with reports suggesting that Wayne Rooney once again wants to leave.