Jose Mourinho reveals the two biggest regrets of his career - including re-joining Chelsea and the club he 'should have left straight away'
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Jose Mourinho has revealed that re-joining Chelsea in 2013 is one of the two major regrets of his managerial career. The Portuguese manager opted to leave Real Madrid after three years and take up a second stint at Stamford Bridge, where he won a third Premier League trophy in 2015 but was sacked seven months later in acrimonious circumstances.
![[He won a third league title with the Blues in 2015 but left under a cloud seven months later]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/17/93623601-0-image-a-17_1735665314342.jpg)
Chelsea were languishing in 16th place in December 2015, just one point ahead of the relegation places, and had lost nine of their 16 previous matches. His career has taken him to Manchester United, Tottenham, and Fenerbahce among others, but staying with Roma after they lost the 2023 Europa League final to Sevilla in Budapest ranks as his other great regret.
![[Mourinho also regrets not leaving Roma immediately after losing the 2023 Europa League final]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/17/93623611-14239737-image-a-18_1735665377470.jpg)
Mourinho has often spoken of his fondness for Roma but his third season there descended into anarchy and, after receiving five red cards and having the club ninth in Serie A, he was sacked in January 2024. 'The "no" to (Real Madrid president) Florentino Perez (is one regret),' Mourinho told Corriere dello Sport. 'He said to me: "Don't leave, you've done the hard part and the best part is yet to come.".
![[Mourinho is currently in charge of Fenerbahce, who are second in the Turkish Super League]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/17/93623585-14239737-image-a-19_1735665405163.jpg)
Jose Mourinho says leaving Real Madrid to re-join Chelsea in 2013 is one of his big regrets. He won a third league title with the Blues in 2015 but left under a cloud seven months later. Mourinho also regrets not leaving Roma immediately after losing the 2023 Europa League final.
![[Madrid president Florentino Perez credited Mourinho for getting the club 'back where we belong' but said his successes were 'not enough']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/17/93623629-14239737-image-a-20_1735665434760.jpg)
'I knew it was true, but I wanted to return to Chelsea after three years of great challenges in Spain. 'I have to talk about Budapest. Not because of the confusion with Anthony Taylor, but because I didn't leave straight away. I should have left Roma straight away. I didn't and it was a mistake.'.
