Mourinho steers Chelsea to glory

In their centenary year, and 50 years after they won their only championship title, Chelsea finally achieved their goal with three matches to spare as Jose Mourinho became the first coach to claim the crown in the Premiership in his baptism season.

The Portuguese coach silenced all his critics... if he still has any.

Mourinho has shown that he can be graceful in defeat for the way he went round the Liverpool players and coaching staff shaking hands and hugging some of them after his side was eliminated in the semi-final of the Champions League at Anfield.

Mourinho is like a breath of fresh air to the Premier League. He has great qualities and showed he is up there with the world's greats in coaching. To win a domestic double of championship and League Cup is every coach's dream, particularly in a first season with a new club.

The Stamford Bridge Blues have emulated Ted Drake's side of 1954-55 that clinched the English title with a home 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday (see final table on right), giving them an unassailable lead at the top with a match to go.

Today's Chelsea have come mightily close to equalling Arsenal's undefeated record throughout a season when they only lost once at Manchester City.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon revealed that Chelsea wanted Mourinho to remain at the helm for the next ten years, and that he had signed a new five-year deal.

Mourinho has lavished praise on club owner Roman Abramovich and admitted that the Russian tycoon's passion for football makes his job easier.

Chelsea, who became only the fourth club to win the Premiership since its inception in 1992-93, will continue to win honours for years to come if they maintain the current winning mentality.

While the PFA have chosen John Terry as Player of the Year, and Frank Lampard was voted the Football Writers' Player of the Year, Mourinho's choice fell on French midfielder Claude Makelele.

Since Makelele left Real Madrid, the Spaniards are still in search of their first honour.

Makelele, who has been described by a BBC correspondent as 'the battery in Mourinho's watch' is a shield for the back four and his positional sense is simply outstanding in addition to the precise passes he feeds to the front men.