MAMPARA OF THE WEEK

José Mourinho

He was special, once

He called himself the “Special One”, and in his heyday at Chelsea, José Mourinho did exhibit an uncommon winning touch. Over at Man U, two dud managers followed the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, and failed. Enter Mourinho — and what a flop he was. Never before has a manager of his supposed calibre achieved so little with so much. It seems he can’t get on with his own players. So, £15m (R272m) later, José is free for Christmas with a payoff that will release him from the worries of a long January, though it is too much to hope that it will remove the ugly scowl from his face. Happy Christmas, José, and if you’re wondering what’s for lunch, the only turkey at the table is you — and, under the tree, your exit is a gift for longsuffering Man U fans. Bye-bye, Sulking One — Olé, Olé, Olé.