MOURINHO: I want to stay at Chelsea for 12 years

Mourinho has set himself the target of staying at Chelsea for 12 years, introducing a sense of stability into his managerial career, and into a club that has recycled 8 managers during Roman Abramavich’s 10 year era. Read more after the cut....


The Portuguese boss admitted he took a notable pay cut after his 3 year stint at Real Madrid, now earning £10m a year.

“I had Real Madrid: I left them because I wanted to, not because they wanted me to. I had other clubs in other countries where it would be easier to go and find an ‘easy’ job immediately. If I was here for financial reasons, I wouldn’t be here getting a lot less money than I had at Real Madrid, where I had three more years on my contract.”

Known as the ‘Special One’ Mourinho envisages a long stay in London, stating that Chelsea is the club he loves. He is then hopeful of managing either Portugal or England at a World Cup.

“I didn’t come here because the job was easy, or because I had a team ready to attack the title, or because I was coming here for the best contract of my life. It’s the worst of my last six years. I’m here because I love the club, I love the project. It’s a different project.”

“I would like [to stay for], say, 12 years. I’m 51 next month. I’d say 12 years, and then two to go to a World Cup with a national team. I would prefer the Portuguese national team. England second [choice], yes.