Jose Mourinho’s return to Chelsea last night triggered a well-earned outpouring of love from the home fans at Stamford Bridge.
While Mourinho will continue to generate a few more headlines over the next few years, he is undoubtedly heading down the slippery slope to retirement.
The new Benfica manager’s personality dwarfed a Champions League encounter that was ultimately decided by an own goal.
Mourinho’s march down the touchline to urge Benfica fans to stop pelting Enzo Fernandez with missiles was the standout moment of a scrappy encounter.
It lacked the energy of his infamous celebration when Porto knocked Manchester United out of the 2003/04 Champions League, but highlighted his ability to seize moments.
Benfica’s decision to appoint Mourinho represents a full-circle managerial moment for him and indicates that his time at the top is coming to an end.
His club management career may yet have a fairytale ending if he can guide Benfica to the title in his homeland, but success in the Champions League is no longer an achievable aim.
In some respects, it is sad to see Mourinho no longer plying his trade with one of the big hitters in European football.
Some critics claim the sport has left Mourinho behind from a tactical perspective, and there is some merit to that argument.
However, that does not detract from the legacy he has established in football. Enjoy what’s left of his managerial career, because you’ll miss him when he’s gone.
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