Chelsea turn to the new Mourinho
Special One’s former protege Villas-Boas set to follow in his mentor’s footsteps by swapping Porto for Stamford Bridge
CHELSEA have turned to the man dubbed The New Jose Mourinho as they seek a manager capable of replicating the glorious era of the Special One.
Andre Villas-Boas, the Treble-winning Porto boss and former protege of Mourinho, is expected to be installed at Stamford Bridge before the end of the week.
The Blues are believed to be ready to meet the £13m release clause in the 33-year-old’s contract, paving the way for him to continue his meteoric rise.
Turkey coach Guus Hiddink, the previous favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti, is thought likely to arrive as well and take up the role of director of football.
Chelsea refused to comment on individuals but said last night: “We hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the new manager in the next few days or so.”
Porto earlier denied Portuguese reports that his release fee had already been paid, but confirmed the clause existed. They are thought keen to ensure Villas-Boas cannot take his star players – such as Colombian striker Falcao – with him to London, as Mourinho did seven years ago.
Villas-Boas has only completed one full season as a manager, but is already one of the hottest properties in Europe and is tipped to earn more than £4m a year at Chelsea.
The former scout, who worked with Mourinho at Chelsea as well as Porto and Inter Milan, has closely followed in his mentor’s managerial footsteps.
Like Mourinho, Villas-Boas did not succeed as a player but studied coaching early and got his first job with a down-at-heel Portuguese club.
Having saved struggling Academica de Coimbra from relegation he was given a shot at boyhood club Porto last summer and promptly delivered the Treble – just as Mourinho had in 2003.
His career path may be similar but his character is different to Mourinho, more modest and reflective than the cocksure Real Madrid boss.
The fluent English speaker is only months older than Blues stars Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.
A MANAGERIAL PRODIGY | RISE AND RISE OF ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS
1994: Villas-Boas, 16, writes to Porto boss Sir Bobby Robson, who lives in the same apartment block, to query his tactics. Robson is so impressed by the youngster’s detailed analysis that he takes him on as a trainee.
1995: On Robson’s advice Villas-Boas heads to Britain and earns his Uefa C coaching licence before turning 18.
1996: Robson and sidekick Jose Mourinho leave for Barcelona but Villas-Boas stays to cut his teeth.
2000: Has a brief spell as coach of the British Virgin Islands only telling them his age when he leaves to return to Porto’s Under-19 team.
2002: Mourinho takes charge at Porto and asks Villas-Boas to set up a top secret scouting department. In Jose’s first full season they win the league, cup and Uefa Cup.
2004: A shock Champions League win later, Mourinho takes Villas-Boas to Chelsea, where they begin the club’s most glorious spell.
2008: Again assisting Mourinho, Villas-Boas helps Inter Milan win the league and cup double.
2009: Takes first managerial role, with Portuguese top flight side Academica de Coimbra, who he drags off the bottom to the safety of mid-table, and the cup semi-finals, all with attractive play.
2010: Impressed, Porto hire the 32-year-old and he takes Europe by storm, losing just one match all season on his way to repeating Mourinho’s 2003 Treble: league, cup and Europa League.