CHELSEA SACKS "THE SPECIAL ONE"

Widely regarded as one of the world's best soccer coaches, Chelsea has sacked the Portuguese manager after an awful run of form left the English Premier League champion with no chance of retaining its title.

But Mourinho was so much more than just a football manager.

Brands flocked to him, attracted by his swagger, but just importantly his ability to deliver outrageously provocative quotes. He was a man you either loved or hated.

So in April, Mourinho told one British newspaper that he was such a good manager that he was "getting better at everything related to my job," which gives you an inkling that the 52-year-old didn't do self doubt.

At that time he was preparing to celebrate Chelsea's triumph in winning the English Premier League title, but that jauntiness has long since disappeared as this serial winner has had to watch his side implode during the 2015-16 campaign.

Though Chelsea has qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Monday's 2-1 domestic defeat by Leicester left the Blues languishing one point above the relegation places. It was the club's ninth league defeat of the season.

It is the second time Mourinho has been relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge, with billionaire club owner Roman Abramovich also wielding the axe in 2007.

His sacking signals a remarkable fall from grace for a man regarded as one of the world's leading soccer coaches -- Mourinho has also won league titles in Italy, Spain and Portugal, plus two European Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan.

He returned to England in June 2013 after a tumultuous spell at Real Madrid, where he described his final season as the worst in his career after failing to win a trophy.

Though Chelsea has qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Monday's 2-1 domestic defeat by Leicester left the Blues languishing one point above the relegation places. It was the club's ninth league defeat of the season.

It is the second time Mourinho has been relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge, with billionaire club owner Roman Abramovich also wielding the axe in 2007.

His sacking signals a remarkable fall from grace for a man regarded as one of the world's leading soccer coaches -- Mourinho has also won league titles in Italy, Spain and Portugal, plus two European Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan.

He returned to England in June 2013 after a tumultuous spell at Real Madrid, where he described his final season as the worst in his career after failing to win a trophy.

When asked after the Leicester defeat if he could hold on to his job, Mourinho said: "The only thing I can say is that I want to.

"I have no doubts and I think you know me well enough, three years this time, plus three years another time, that I am not afraid of a big challenge, and in this moment this is a real big challenge.

"I want to stay, I hope Mr Abramovich and the board want me to stay."

The club gave the 52-year-old a vote of confidence in October, saying he had the board's full support even though they admitted that results hadn't been good enough.

Since then Chelsea have suffered five more defeats in the Premier League, and could drop into the relegation zone if it is beaten by Sunderland on Saturday and other results don't go its way.

 Culled From CNN. (by Chris Murphy)