Special One is Bernabeu-bound

[Manwell Pablo]

Mourinho: Heading for Chelsea divorceSpecial One is Bernabeu-bound

TEAMtalk's Chris Burton feels there is another divorce on the cards at Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho set to join Real Madrid in the summer.

Things are beginning to look less than rosy for Jose Mourinho down at the Bridge.

His confession that he would be "honoured" to manage Real Madrid at some point in the future appears to have been the signal for Roman Abramovich to put the P45 in the post, and the chances of 'The Special One' continuing to rule over the Kings Road next season are getting increasingly remote.

Chelsea supremo Red Rom, about to be £5.5billion out of pocket due to his imminent divorce if reports are to be believed, is unlikely to be in the mood to idly stand by and watch as his employee openly touts himself to another club. Relations between the two have already been stretched to breaking point in recent times, and this may prove to be the final nail in the Portugese coach's coffin.

There was a time when Abramovich could be seen at every Chelsea game and he was a regular visitor to the team dressing room.

Recently, though, he has been absent from a number of matches and he hasn't shown his face in the dressing room for months. His differences with the current management are likely to be the main reason for his staying away.

Things have got so bad it now appears that even if Mourinho were to lead the club to an improbable and historic quadruple, Abramovich's roubles will be lining someone else's pockets next year.

In his short managerial career before arriving at Chelsea, Mourinho had spent no more than two and half seasons at any one club. He is a man who continually wants to challenge himself and set himself new goals to work towards. Therefore, there was never likely to be much chance of him sticking around until the end of his contract in 2010 anyway. That just isn't his style.

He arrived at Stamford Bridge blowing his own trumpet and telling tall tales of how he was the answer to Chelsea fans' prayers. To be fair, he has been as good as his word. He has been a breath of fresh air and is a welcome change to the dour-faced bosses the English game has become accustomed to.

Back-to-back Premiership titles, two League Cup triumphs and a Community Shield have represented a golden age at the club. If he were to land the Champions League this season, and at present there seems every chance that he could, there would be nothing left for him to prove.

Therefore, relieving Mourinho of his current duties is unlikely to cause him a great deal of stress, and could actually end up doing the club more harm than good.

Mourinho would be the ideal choice to be the new ring master at the Real Madrid circus, and the job would undoubtedly provide him with the greatest test of his managerial skills. He would revel in the pressure, and if anyone can bring glory back to the Bernabeau, it will be him.

The problem for Chelsea, however, will be how many of his current flock would follow their mentor to Spain?

Frank Lampard is currently stalling over a new contract, could do with a new challenge and his Spanish fiancee would surely welcome the move back home.

John Terry is apparantly unhappy about not being offered a contract which would keep him at the club for life, and despite having Chelsea flowing through his blood, he has been one of Mourinho's biggest supporters and would jump at the chance to continue working with him.

Arjen Robben has already been linked with a move to La Liga in the summer, and would provide the pace and flair which Madrid currently lack. There is no doubt Mourinho would welcome him with open arms.

Ironically, the man who will be making way for Mourinho at Los Blancos is likely to be one of the names linked with the Stamford Bridge hotseat. Like Mourinho, Fabio Capello doesn't tend to stay in one place for too long. Although this time his departure will be forced upon him, he has spent a career moving from club to club.

Admittedly wherever he has been, success has tended to follow, so Chelsea could do a lot worse than appoint the Italian.

For the time being, though, Mourinho is way too professional to take his eye off the ball and Chelsea should go close in all four competitions they are still challenging for.

The end of an era is nigh, though, and next season the Senor Mourinho roadshow will roll into Madrid. Who goes with him remains to be seen, but expect success to be not too far behind.

decicded to bring this up as I said something similar a couple of days ago to a mate over several pints, I do think one way or another Joes Mourinho will be at Real before long. Thoughts?

[Mort]

Chelski would be foolish to let him go IMHO... it'd also be a big loss for the Prem, sounds like it could be more bargining and posturing from Jose, on balance I'd still expect him to still be in place next season.

[Thracian]

It wouldn't surprise me if his life changed more dramatically than that.

He's just been one fortunate guy and has been cocky with it. I'm reminded of the phrase Pride comes Before a Fall and I could just imagine his luck changing big time.

[Flynny]

Dunno how the article manages to mention his messy divorce and his absence from games and not link the two.

Makes much more sense than a spat with Mourinho.

[Finnegan]

I think Mourinho's a good manager (that much is obvious) and he's fairly entertaining, but I don't think it's any great loss to the game here to think he's going. I also don't see him as particularly that special, there are managers out there who have done well with less. I would, for example, be much more afraid of Chelsea were the Hiddink rumours to be true. Everyone sites Porto as Mourinho's big "omg he's not just gud cos hes got millions to spend!" but it isn't like Porto are some pokey little backwards team, it isn't like the UEFA Cup is the world's best competition and I don't think anyone can claim the Portugese Super Liga is amongst Europe's strongest and most competitive divisions.

[Manwell Pablo]

I think Mourinho's a good manager (that much is obvious) and he's fairly entertaining, but I don't think it's any great loss to the game here to think he's going. I also don't see him as particularly that special, there are managers out there who have done well with less. I would, for example, be much more afraid of Chelsea were the Hiddink rumours to be true. Everyone sites Porto as Mourinho's big "omg he's not just gud cos hes got millions to spend!" but it isn't like Porto are some pokey little backwards team, it isn't like the UEFA Cup is the world's best competition and I don't think anyone can claim the Portugese Super Liga is amongst Europe's strongest and most competitive divisions.

the UEFA cup may not be but the Champions League is.