The Trapattoni treble has been impossible this century. Indeed, the concept may have been devalued by Uefa because it axed the Cup Winners' Cup. But since the inaugural UEFA Conference League started this year, Jose Mourinho now has a chance to win all three UEFA competitions.
Jose Mourinho crying after his team, Roma reached the UEFA Conference League final (Image- B/R Football)
It represented something at the time, to have won each of the European Cup, the Uefa Cup - at times almost a stronger competition then - and the late Cup Winners' Cup. And only two managers had: the late Udo Lattek, who did so with three different clubs, and the aforementioned Giovanni Trapattoni, who won all three with Juventus and then added further Uefa Cups with Internazionale and Juventus.
Now there may be another three-card trick: the Mourinho treble. And if that is not quite as pejorative a term as the 'Mourinho season,' Antonio Conte's phrase for Chelsea's disastrous 2015-16 in which the Portuguese was sacked with his side 16th, it is nevertheless a sign of how the mighty have fallen.
Roma could become the inaugural winners of the Europa Conference League which, for a club whose only continental trophies are the Fairs Cup and the Anglo-Italian Cup, is not something to be sniffed at. But for Mourinho, a double Champions and Europa League winner, it would complete a new clean sweep.
Uefa may salivate at the idea that its much-derided third competition, which many were primed to either ignore or mock, could have a box-office winner, in Mourinho. Maybe his legacy will be to give the Conference League legitimacy.
He is the manager defined by the Champions League: winner twice, each in unlikely fashion, with Porto the only side outside the five wealthiest divisions to conquer the continent in the 21st century and Inter winning a first European Cup for 45 years, semi-finalist eight times, managing 151 games in the competition.
He is the manager who, when he returned to Chelsea, mocked Rafa Benitez for winning the wrong kind of silverware. "I don't want to win the Europa League," he said in 2013, with the air of man whose jibes could come from a position of superiority. "It would be a big disappointment for me. I don't want my players to feel the Europa League is our competition."
Perhaps lifting the Conference League, to bring a fifth European trophy, would bolster Mourinho's reputation as a winner; certainly a first trophy in five years could help suggest his glory days are not confined to the past.
Yet recent years have brought new indignities. So has slumming it in Europe's third tier. He has lost to Bodo/Glimt. Twice. One of them finished 6-1. There are explorers who have had less painful trips into the Arctic Circle than Mourinho.
Now, his fortunes having declined since then, he is arguably damned if he does and damned if he doesn't: the only thing worse than winning the Conference League is not winning the Conference League.
Football Facts: Managers To Win Premier League In Their Debut Season
With Arne Slot closing on winning the Premier League in his debut season as a manager, we present you with the managers to win the Premier League in their debut season.
Mourinho was the first manager to win Premier League in his debut season.
With Arne Slot closing on winning the Premier League in his debut season as a manager, we present you the football facts of managers to win the Premier League in their debut season. If or when Liverpool win the Premier League 2024-25 title, Arne Slot will become only the fifth manager in Premier League history to achieve the feat.
Here are the managers to win the Premier League title in their debut season in the league. Please note we have not included Claudio Ranieri's name for winning the title with Leicester City in 2015-16, because he had already managed Chelsea from 2000 to 2004.
Managers to win Premier League in their debut season
Jose Mourinho | 2004-05
Mourinho was the first manager to win the Premier League in his debut season. Image | Getty via Evening Standar
That is why he is the special one. Jose Mourinho came the Chelsea after winning the Champions League with Porto and created history right after that. In the 2004-05 season, Mourinho arrived at Chelsea with a champion mindset and started the season with a bang by beating Manchester United in his first game at the helm.
With John Terry as the leader of the pack, young Peter Chech between the goals and players like Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, Mourinho took Chelsea to Premier League success with the then-record highest point of a season (95).
However, that team still holds the Premier League record for conceding the least goals in a season (15) and most clean sheets in a season (25).
Ancelotti after winning the Premier League 2009/10 title with Chelsea. Image | 90Min
One of the greatest football managers of the generation, Carlo Ancelotti arrived in the Premier League and was able to replicate what Mourinho had done in his debut season.
While Mourinho had made them solid in defence, the team started to fall apart during his latter years. After a few failures by the next managers, Ancelotti took the responsibility to bring the silverware back to Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti unleashed a ruthless attacking mindset within the team which resulted in Chelsea creating the records for most goals scored in a Premier League season (103), most goals scored at home in a season (68), and winning the league with the best goal difference in a season (71).
Didier Drogba scored 29 goals in the Premier League for them. Frank Lampard also showed his class with 22 league goals that season.
Pellegrini helped City win their second-ever Premier League title. Image | BCC
Pellegrini led Manchester City to their second-ever Premier League in his debut season as the head coach at Etihad Stadium. After the success of Roberto Mancini just two seasons ago, where we saw Sergio Aguero creating history for them, Pellegrini took City back to the top.
Yaya Toure with 20 goals led them in front as they scored more than 100 goals in a season for the first time in their history. Eden Dzeko with 16 goals and Sergio Aguero with 17 also were the stars for the Blues.
They won the league two points clear of runners-up Liverpool, who had earned 84 points.
Antonio Conte | 2016-17
Conte won 13 consecutive league games to win the league. Image | Chelsea FC
Roman Ibrahimbovic somehow was always right with appointing coaches at the right time. Antonio Conte joined Chelsea during the mid-season after Guus Hiddink handled the team as interim coach.
Conte formed a fluid 3-4-2-1 system and with the team already out of the European title race, he had only one thing to focus on. In a season which he called "a Mourinho season”, Chelesea created history by winning 13 straight league games in a row, an equal record for any English top-flight team to enter this special list of football facts.
Conte went on to win the Premier League Manager of the Month Award for October, November and December months. No manager had won the award in three consecutive months before him.
Chelsea with 93 points won the Premier League as Conte became the third Chelsea coach to win the league in his debut season.
UEFA Conference League 2024-25 Round of 16 Schedule and Fixtures
The UEFA Conference League 2024–25 Round of 16 fixtures are set, notable matchups include Chelsea facing Copenhagen, and Fiorentina taking on Panathinaikos. Leading up to the final on May 28, 2025, at Wroclaw Stadium in Poland.
The 2024/25 UEFA Conference LeagueRound of 16, Quarter-final, and Semi-final draw took place on Friday 21, 2025 at the House of Nyon in Switzerland.
Some high-intensity matchups like Fiorentina vs Panathinaikos meet for the first time in UEFA Conference League history. The ties will take place on March 6 and 13.
Unseeded Teams (Knock-out phase Play-offs winners)
Borac (BIH)
Celje (SVN)
Copenhagen (DEN)
Jagiellonia (POL)
Molde (NOR)
Pafos (CYP)
Panathinaikos (GRE)
Real Betis (ESP)
UEFA Conference League Round of 16 fixtures
First Leg
Date: Thursday 6 March 2025
Time: 18:45 CET & 23:15 IST
Copenhagen vs Chelsea
Molde vs Liga Warszawa
Panathinaikos vs Fiorentina
Real Betis vs Vitoria SC
Borac vs SK Rapid
Celje vs Lugano
Jagiellonia vs Cercle Brugge
Pafos vs Djurgarden
Second Leg
Date: Thursday 13 March 2025
Time: 18:45 CET & 23:15 IST
Cercle Brugge vs Jagiellonia
Djurgarden vs Pafos
Lugano vs Celje
SK Rapid vs Borac
Chelsea vs Copenhagen
Fiorentina vs Panathinaikos
Liga Warszawa vs Molde
Vitoria SC vs Real Betis
UEFA Conference League Quarter Finals Draw
Real Betis or Vitoria SC vs Jagiellonia or Cercle Brugge
Celje or Lugano vs Panathinaikos or Fiorentina
Copenhagen or Chelsea vs Molda or Legia Warszawa
Pafos or Djurgarden vs Borac or SK Rapid
UEFA Conference League Semi-Finals Draw:
Winner QF-1 vs Winner QF-2
Winner QF-3 vs Winner QF-4
Round of 16 Draw:
The clubs were paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8).
The clubs in each seeded pair were drawn into one of two positions in the round of 16 against the relevant winner of the knockout phase play-offs, whose position was determined by the knockout phase play-off draw.
Four bowls were prepared for the draw, with the balls containing the names of each pair of seeded teams placed in the corresponding marked bowls according to the league rankings.
The draw allocated the side of the bracket for all the seeded teams, starting with the teams ranked 7/8 and finishing with the teams 1/2.
One ball was taken from the bowl containing the two relevant ranked teams. For example, the teams ranked 7 and 8 and were opened to display the team. The first team drawn from this bowl was placed in their reserved spot on the silver side of the bracket. The other seeded team of the pairing was then drawn displayed and allocated in the corresponding reserved spot on the green side of the bracket.
The same procedure was carried out with the remaining seeded teams.
In principle, the seeded clubs play the return leg at home.
Road to Wroclaw
Round of 16: 6 and 13 March 2025 Quarter-finals: 10 and 17 April 2025 Semi-finals: 1 and 8 May 2025 Final: 28 May 2025
Jose Mourinho, often considered one of the greatest managers ever in football, has hinted at his desire to take up the mantle of coaching a national side in future before his retirement.
In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the 61-year-old Portuguese expressed his desire which is the only thing he has not done yet in his illustrious career; managing a national team.
Mourinho: "Quero jogar um Europeu ou um Mundial e unir um país em torno de uma equipa, como já fiz muitas vezes com os clubes" 🚨
"Quero fazê-lo pelo futebol e pelo que este desporto representa. Vai ser incrível!" 👀
Having managed elite European clubs such as Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, and AS Roma; Mourinho is currently in charge as the head coach of the Turkish side Fenerbahce since June 2024.
"I want to do this for football"
In an exclusive interview with Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho said that he wants to manage a national side as he wants to "do this for football". He stated:
Yes. I want to play a European Championship or a World Cup, to unite a country around its national team in the same way I have managed so many times with clubs and fans. I want to do it for football, for what this sport represents. It will be incredible.
Before joining Fenerbahce, Mourinho managed AS Roma, where he won the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League and lost on penalties against Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League final in the following season. He was sacked in January 2024.
However, Mourinho expressed that he takes more interest in Inter Milan where he won two Scudettos and one Champions League from 2008 to 2010.
I haven't seen Roma play anymore. Inter, yes!
Mourinho also addressed that he had to refuse Florentino Perez as he decided to re-join Chelsea in 2013. He said the following when questioned if he has any regrets in his career:
If you're referring to professional choices, the no to Florentino. He told me 'Mou, don't leave now, you've done the hard part and the good part is yet to come... I knew it would be like this, but I wanted to return to Chelsea after three years in Spain of great struggles...
Mourinho has won almost every possible trophy during his 23-year-long managerial career. Now, he has set his eyes on an international accolade with a national side.
Previously, in an interview with beIN Sports in 2019, Mourinho showed his interest in coaching a national team. In that interview, he said:
I want to compete in new competitions, I think about the World Cup and the European Championships. For a long time, I have the desire to try such an adventure, because right now, I see myself more with a nationalteam than a new club
Marc Guiu breaks record, becomes the youngest ever Chelsea player to score hat-trick in European competition
Last night, Marc Guiu became the youngest ever Chelsea player to score a hat trick in a European competition, and he netted thrice against Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League’s league phase.
Marc Guiu celebrating his first-half hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers in Conference League. Image | Chelsea FC
18 years, 11 months, and 15 days old, teenage sensation Marc Guiu last became the youngest ever Chelsea player to score a hat-trick in any European Competition when he netted thrice against Shamrock Rovers in UEFA Conference League’s league phase in a 5-1 home win. This win meant Chelsea would finish the league phase with six out of six wins.
With his hat-trick, Guiu now has become the top scorer of the tournament this season as well with six goals so far. Although the competition is not that great like the Premier League, the youngster's great form continued to impress the Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and the fans.
The Spaniard was one of the three teenagers to score for Chelsea along with Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George in a great win in front of the home fans. The first-half hat-trick from the former Barcelona Youth Academy player made him become the 80th Chelsea player to score a senior hat-trick.
His hat-trick was the 161st hat-trick in the club's history and sixth in 2024.
Who is the youngest ever Chelsea player to score a senior hat-trick?
Jimmy Greaves' first hat-trick in 1957 on Christmas Day at the age of 17 made him the youngest ever Chelsea player to score a senior hat-trick.
Who is the youngest Chelsea player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League?
Christian Pulisic became the youngest Chelsea player to score a Premier League hat-trick at the age of 21 years, 38 days old against Burnley in the 2019-2020 season.
Who is the youngest Chelsea player to score a Champions League hat-trick?
At just 28 years, 6 months, and 17 days old, Didier Drogba became the youngest Chelsea player to score a Champions League hat-trick when he scored thrice against Levski Sofia in 2006.
Who is the youngest Chelsea player to score a European hat-trick?
At 18 years, 11 months, and 15 days old, Marc Guiu last became the youngest-ever Chelsea player to score a hat-trick in any European Competition against Shamrock Rovers.
In this article, we will explore some of the most remarkable transfer stories that have had a significant impact on the world of football and the transfer market.
The transfer window is one of the most important aspects of football. Before the start of the season and the battles on the pitch, various clubs tussle in the transfer market to sign multiple players.
Essentially, the blueprint for desired success starts from the transfer window, which involves numerous complex negotiations, agreements, and pre-agreements.
A lot of transfers occur regularly in the transfer market, but some remarkable stories are simultaneously amusing, shocking, and surprising. Here is an attempt to tell you some of those unique stories!
5. Didier Drogba to Chelsea
Image Courtesy | Talk Chelsea
In 2004, Jose Mourinho took the hot seat of the Chelsea coach. The Champions League-winning Coach for Porto, Mourinho was looking for a good striker for his new team. He spotted Didier Drogba who was a striker for French team Olympique de Marseille and was named 2003–04 French Ligue 1 player of the season. In an interview with Bein Sports, he revealed the story behind one of Chelsea's greatest signings.
The then-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho arranged a meeting in a restaurant concerning the team's speculations in the next summer transfer window. When Mourinho mentioned Drogba, Roman did not quite recognize him. Naturally, he wanted to know for whom he was going to pay the transfer fee.
Roman asked, "Who? Who do you want as a striker?... Who is he? Where is he playing?" and Mourinho answered, "Mr. Abramovich, pay. Pay and don't speak"
Drogba signed for Chelsea for 24 million pounds and Mourinho was not proved wrong. Playing until 2012, he scored 157 goals and etched his name as one of Chelsea's greatest strikers in the club's history. Drogba won the Premier League in his first season and won three more Premier Leagues, four League Cups, and one Champions League with Chelsea.
4. Malcom to Barcelona
Image Courtesy | Goal.com
In 2018, the Brazilian hot prospect Malcom from the French club Bordeaux completed all the necessary agreements for his transfer to the Italian club AS Roma. Bordeaux agreed to the transfer and even booked a flight to Italy for Malcom. Also, the Roma fans were eagerly waiting to greet their new signing at the airport in Rome.
But, the situation quickly changed whenFC Barcelona entered the transfer negotiations with Bordeaux during the final hours of the transfer market, which is famously known as the 'Eleventh Hour'. They offered a higher fee than Roma, and with Malcolm's insistence, Bordeaux agreed to the transfer to the Spanish club. Malcolm signed for Barcelona on a five-year deal for 41 million euros.
This was one of the craziest Transfer Hijacks that happened in the last minutes before the transfer window was closed. However, this transfer did not go as expected for Barcelona.
Malcom played just one season flaunting the Blaugrana shirt and he only scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists in 24 appearances. After that season, Barcelona sold Malcom to Zenit Saint Petersburg for 40 million euros.
The then-captain of AS Monaco, Emmanuel Petit was one of the most highly demanded players in the 1997 summer transfer window. Tottenham Hotspur, the North London club was the frontrunner in the race to sign this talented midfielder.
Petit arrived at a preliminary meeting with Alan Sugar who was the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur back then. Alan also showed him around the club's stadium. Spurs officials thought that the signing was just a matter of time.
While leaving the club, Petit also asked the club officials to book a taxi. The bosses arranged a taxi for him thinking that he might be going back to the airport. It is rumoured that they also paid the taxi fare of £20.
But Petit ended up at Highbury Stadium which was the then-home ground of Arsenal, the arch-rivals of Tottenham. Petit came to meet Arsenal chairman David Dean and coach Arsene Wenger. Wenger, who already knew Petit from his Monaco days, managed to convince him to sign for Arsenal and he signed for Arsenal that very afternoon.
Petit later joked about the Tottenham officials calling a taxi for him and said, “If they want to send me the bill I am happy to pay it.”
In 2015, Real Madrid and Manchester United penned down a swap deal agreement to swap their first-team goalkeepers. Real Madrid's goalkeeper Keylor Navas and Manchester United's keeper David deGea were involved in the transfer as they were about to sign for United and Madrid respectively.
Every piece of the puzzle was in the right place except a fax machine. This is one of the most popular conspiracy theories in football that Navas' documentation did not reach the club in Manchester in time on the deadline day of the transfer window and only a faulty fax machine was responsible for that!
As none of the documents could be submitted before the specified time, the registration of both players was also not completed. In England, transfer registration could be completed up to a certain time after the transfer window is closed but Spain had no such facility. That is why Real Madrid could not go further with the documentation and the transfer was called off.
Both clubs blamed and issued conflicting statements against each other following this mishap. Navas was very disappointed about the failed transfer and later said, "I cried when the transfer window was closed, near my wife... I’m human and everything exploded. I was waiting in the airport even without suitcases. I was not on the plane, but I was near."
1. Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain
Image Courtesy | Sky News
The Brazilian phenomenon Neymar was displaying his best performances during his Barcelona tenure since he signed for them in 2013. He played a key role in winning two La Liga titles and a Champions League for the Blaugranas. Many of Barca fans started dreaming about Neymar to be Lionel Messi's successor at Barcelona.
Since the start of the 2017 transfer window, Paris Saint-Germain made significant efforts to build a strong team. No one could believe that Neymar was indeed leaving Barcelona and signing for PSG until a rumor that first surfaced on July 18, 2017, came true. The Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona used to dominate the transfer market but this time, there was a drastic change that shook the entire footballing world.
Despite having signed a contract renewal with Barcelona in November 2016, Neymar's entourage informed PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi via a phone call that Neymar was prepared to leave Barcelona in the 2017 summer transfer window. The PSG officials also reached a personal terms agreement with Neymar through some secret meetings.
After three weeks of prolonged negotiations with Barcelona officials, PSG paid Barcelona a transfer fee of 222 million euros to sign Neymar which holds the record of the most expensive transfer of all time to this date.
This signing was considered one of the most shocking signings that completely changed the concept of 'cash splash' in the transfer market. The transfer initiated a trend of paying excessive sums for players that altered the business in the transfer market forever.
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