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Mourinho and Real Madrid Parting Ways Real Madrid And Mourinho Parting Ways
(about 2 hours later)
José Mourinho, the petulant but prosperous Portuguese soccer coach who labeled himself the Special One, will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and is widely expected to return to Chelsea for a second term with the West London powerhouse. José Mourinho, the petulant but prosperous Portuguese soccer coach who labeled himself the Special One, will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and is widely expected to return to the West London powerhouse Chelsea for a second term.
His departure was announced at a news conference Monday night in Spain, with Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Peréz, revealing the decision even though there are two games remaining on the Spanish league schedule. The move, which was agreed to by both sides, Peréz said, was hardly a surprise as Madrid is assured of finishing the season without any major trophies, a development which led Mourinho to label this season “disastrous” and his “worst ever” as a coach. Mourinho’s departure was announced at a news conference Monday night in Spain, with Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Peréz, revealing the decision even though there are two games remaining on the Spanish league schedule. The move, which was agreed to by both sides, Peréz said, was hardly a surprise, as Madrid is assured of finishing the season without any major trophies — a development that led Mourinho to call this season disastrous and his “worst ever” as a coach.
“We’ve decided to bring our relationship to an end at the end of the current season,” Peréz said at the press conference. “The club and manager agree the timing is right to bring our relationship to an end. On behalf of the board of directors I would like to thank José Mourinho for all his hard work. The team have improved in his three years and we wish him all the best. “We’ve decided to bring our relationship to an end at the end of the current season,” Peréz said at the news conference. “The club and manager agree the timing is right to bring our relationship to an end. On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank José Mourinho for all his hard work. The team has improved in his three years, and we wish him all the best.
“After three years we both agreed this was the correct moment to finish. With Mourinho, we made a big leap competitively and sportingwise. Today Madrid is where it ought to be. We had not reached that level prior to his arrival, so the balance of his stay here was positive.” “After three years, we both agreed this was the correct moment to finish. With Mourinho, we made a big leap competitively and sporting-wise. Today, Madrid is where it ought to be. We had not reached that level prior to his arrival, so the balance of his stay here was positive.”
Mourinho, who has often been criticized for his prickly nature, has won two Champions League titles and seven top division league championships while coaching in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. His time at Madrid included a league title in 2012, and he signed a contract extension last summer that was supposed to keep him with the club until 2016. Mourinho, who has often been criticized for his prickly nature, has won two Champions League titles and seven top-division league championships while coaching in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. His time at Madrid included a league title in 2012, and he signed a contract extension last summer that was supposed to keep him with the club until 2016.
After a difficult season, however, in which Madrid’s rival, Barcelona, ran away with the league title and Madrid was eliminated in the semifinals of the Champions League, the pressure on Mourinho increased. Once Madrid lost to its neighbors, Atlético Madrid, in the Copa Del Rey final over the weekend, it seemed likely that a move would be made. After a difficult season, however, in which Madrid’s rival, Barcelona, ran away with the league title and Madrid was eliminated in the semifinals of the Champions League, the pressure on Mourinho increased. Once Real Madrid lost to Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey final over the weekend, it seemed likely that a move would be made.
Now, many reports have once again linked Mourinho to Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles and one F.A. Cup title from 2004 to 2007. Mourinho left Chelsea after enduring an up-and-down relationship with the owner Roman Abramovich, who has run through a steady string of managers. If Mourinho returns, he will replace Rafa Benítez, who won the 2013 Europa League title; Benitez, of course, had replaced Roberto Di Matteo, who won the 2012 Champions League title. Many reports have once again linked Mourinho to Chelsea, where he won two Premier League championships and one F.A. Cup title from 2004 to 2007. Mourinho left Chelsea after enduring an up-and-down relationship with the owner Roman Abramovich, who has run through a string of managers. If Mourinho returns, he will replace Rafa Benítez, who won the 2013 Europa League title; Benitez had replaced Roberto Di Matteo, who won the 2012 Champions League title.
Frank Lampard, the Chelsea veteran midfielder, said recently that Mourinho was the best manager he ever played under and would be welcomed back by the Blues. The veteran Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said recently that Mourinho was the best manager he had played under and would be welcomed back. “He galvanizes people,” Lampard told TalkSport, an English radio station.
“He galvanizes people,” Lampard told TalkSport, an English radio station. “His own self-confidence reflects back on his teams. He did that to me personally. Tactically, he’s fantastic. He’s very astute. As a team he sets you up brilliantly.”
Lampard added: “He might rub people up the wrong way. But as a manager, he’s brilliant with his team, tactically, he’s brilliant with individuals and I think he’s brilliant with the press. I know it creates a storm, but he does protect his players.”

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: May 20, 2013Correction: May 20, 2013

An earlier version of this article misstated Real Madrid’s finish in this year’s Champions League. Madrid was ousted in the semifinals, not the first knockout round.

An earlier version of this article misstated Real Madrid’s finish in this year’s Champions League. Madrid was ousted in the semifinals, not the first knockout round.