A bridge too close

His managerial record stands the closest scrutiny a Champions League winner with two clubs and league titles in Portugal,England,Italy and Spain. He guided Porto to league and European glory,moulded Chelsea into English champions and Inter Milan into league and European winners.

At Real,who on Monday announced that Mourinho would leave at the end of a trophyless season in a mutual parting,he ended three years of Barcelona dominance by winning the La Liga title last season. But he fell short in his stated desire to win a third personal Champions League trophy and the magical 10th that Real so desperately desired.

Success on the pitch has earned the adulation of fans,the respect of players and a love-hate relationship with club presidents. But underpinning Mourinhos time in managerial hotseats have been clashes with authority,tetchy relationships with rival managers and a disdain for match officials.

Accused by rivals of being arrogant,Mourinho is never one to keep an opinion to himself. Arriving at Chelsea in 2004 to declare please dont call me arrogant but Im European champion and I think Im a special one, the never-shy Mourinho has worn his heart on his sleeve.

Adored by Chelsea fans during his three full seasons,if he does head back to London Mourinho will work again under the man who brought his reign to an end. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich fired Mourinho in 2007 when their relationship had reportedly broken down completely. Chelseas long-serving captain John Terry has said the pair now get on very well,a key sign that Abramovich could soon be again rolling out the welcome mat.

Mourinho has never been far from controversial moments. In 2005,he was fined and banned for accusing referee Anders Frisk and Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard of meeting at halftime during the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match against Chelsea. Frisk sent off Didier Drogba in that game and two weeks later the referee announced his retirement because of threats made to his family.

CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS

Banned from the touchline and fined several times during his Inter stint,Mourinho landed in hot water again for making a handcuff gesture to television cameras to make the point that his side had been victimised after they had two players sent off in a Serie A match with Sampdoria.

His departure from Real comes as a far cry from the way he left Inter after guiding the Italians to an unprecedented treble in 2010,culminating in their first European Cup triumph in 45 years.

Last year Mourinho guided Real to their first La Liga title for four years but was unable to work his magic again in the Champions League with Real beaten in the semi-finals in the last three seasons.

With Chelsea mounting a feeble defence of their Champions League crown won last year,Mourinho may just have unfinished business on his mind.