Chelsea icons Frank Lampard and John Terry opened up about the emotional toll of Jose Mourinho’s unexpected departure from Stamford Bridge in September 2007, revealing that players were moved to tears when the manager broke the news.
During his initial spell from 2004 to 2007, Mourinho ended Chelsea’s 50-year top-flight title drought by securing back-to-back Premier League trophies. However, deteriorating relations with club owner Roman Abramovich led to his sudden exit, after which he went on to manage Inter Milan.
Speaking in the three-part documentary series Mourinho, Lampard remembered the exact moment the Portuguese manager informed the team.
“I remember him coming into the dressing room, and he said to me that he’d been sacked. I could not think about how much this man had helped my career, how much I loved working with him. There were tears, which is not normal in the dressing room when a manager leaves,” recalled Lampard.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry also reflected on his bond with his former boss, taking personal responsibility for the 1-1 Champions League draw against Rosenborg that precipitated the dismissal.
“I would leave that pitch in a coffin for him. You have got grown men, tears running down their face, not really understanding why. And even still today I am like, that is my fault.” Terry said.
“When we drew the Champions League game, my man scored. If I did not let that person score, would he have lasted another couple of years? Who knows? I still feel kind of responsible for that, if that makes sense. It is just disappointing how it all ended, if I am honest. I absolutely loved him and adored him and was more upset than anyone, to be honest,” he added.
Jose Mourinho recalls fallout with Abramovich
In the series, Jose Mourinho attributed his fallout with Abramovich to external influences that disrupted the club’s inner circle.
“In my work, the triangle: Jose, Peter Kenyon, Roman was invaded by strangers. In the beginning, you play at Stamford Bridge, you look to the box, Roman, his wife, with one or two persons of his confidence. A few seasons later: former players, agents. These kinds of people, they know where the money is,” Mourinho said.
