Chelsea fans chant for Mourinho, here's why they want their greatest ever manager back at the Bridge

Nearly six years after he walked out of the top job at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho once again heard his name ring out around Stamford Bridge.

It is no secret that Mourinho's reign as Real Madrid boss is coming to an end and Stamford Bridge is looking increasingly like his next destination.

On a night when interim manager Rafa Benitez guided Chelsea to the final of the Europa League Mourinho was again the name on the lips of the supporters. But why does the Portuguese still hold such a special place in the hearts of Chelsea fans?

Simply the best: Nobody has been as successful as Jose Mourinho (centre) at Chelsea

Roman Abramovich is the man who started the revolution at Chelsea and he will always be revered by the fans - without his money, the trophies and league titles would not have been possible.

But if the mega-rich Russian was the catalyst for change, it was Mourinho who became the revolution.

Everybody remembers his first day at Stamford Bridge.

NOTABLE CHELSEA MANAGERS, BY WIN PERCENTAGE

Manager	Games Played	Win Percentage	Trophies Won
Guus Hiddink	22	73	One FA Cup
Jose Mourinho	185	67	Two League Titles, Two FA Cups, Three League Cups
Avram Grant	54	67	None
Carlo Ancelotti	109	61	One League Title, One FA Cup
Roberto Di Matteo	42	57	One Champions League, One FA Cup
Gianluca Vialli	142	53	One FA Cup, One Cup Winners' Cup, One League Cup, One Super Cup
Rafa Benitez	38	53	None (In the Europa League final)
Dave Sexton	373	44	One FA Cup, One Cup Winners' Cup
Ted Drake	424	37	One League Title

He proclaimed himself the 'Special One' and though he didn't go as far as to promise to win the league title that season, it was clear to everyone that that is exactly what he believed he would do.

His legacy was born, and since that day, Chelsea have not had anyone as Special as Mourinho in charge.

In Chelsea's 106-year history, Jose Mourinho has the highest win percentage (67 per cent) bar Gus Hiddink (73 per cent) and Avram Grant, whose is equal.

But Hiddink only had 22 matches in charge at the Bridge and Grant 54, Mourinho had 185.

Back to back: Successive titles cemented his legacy

The Special One: Mourinho won Chelsea hearts and minds in his very first press conference

It is a simple fact and the overriding reason for his love - nobody has been as good for as long at Chelsea, he is the club's greatest ever manager statistically, and where it matters, in the trophy room.

Of Chelsea's four league titles, Mourinho won two, in his first two years in charge.

He also won an FA Cup and two League Cups in his three-and-a-half year reign, and oversaw a period of success unrivalled in Chelsea's history.

It was an exciting time to be a supporter. Players who previously would only have arrived at the end of their careers were now choosing the club over European giants.

Though his playing style has come to be known as attritional and borne out of defensive and team discipline, some of the play - characterised by the terrorising wing-play of Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Joe Cole - was great to watch.

Chelsea scored a very reasonable 72 goals in each of the title winning seasons under Mourinho, just under two goals per game. 

His pitchside histrionics were not only amusing to watch but showed that he cared about the club. Hatred and antagonisation of rivals such as Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal only endeared him further.

And his interviews and post-match comments helped create an 'us against the world' mentality that extended to the fans.

Antics: Mourinho's off-the-field actions, such as throwing his title-winning medal into the crowd, endeared him to the Chelsea faithful

Chelsea supporters were constantly defending their choice of club after being asked: 'How long have you been a Chelsea fan?', and faced taunts that their side had bought the title.

Although Mourinho didn't win a European trophy, in the eyes of Chelsea fans his record in that regard came about not by fault but by conspiracy.

The Luis Garcia 'ghost goal' for Liverpool and Asier Del Horno's controversial sending off against Barcelona only served to convince Chelsea supporters their club was being stitched up.

Failure? Mourinho never won a European title at the Bridge, but incidents such as Luis Garcia's (centre) 'ghost goal' helped to fuel anti-Chelsea conspiracies

Mourinho constantly thanked the fans and flattered them, and incidents such as throwing his Premier League medal into the crowd showed Chelsea supporters they were dealing with a maverick, something that hasn't been seen in the league before or since.

They wanted him to have a job for life.

So when the end came it was as sad for supporters as it was inevitable.

Multi-billionaires are known for having egos as large as their bank balances and it was Mourinho who was getting the love and the praise for taking Chelsea to the top.

Exciting times: Mourinho's Chelsea were known for defensive play, but with players like Arjen Robben (left) and Damien Duff (right) they were very capable of producing exciting football

But he came second in the league in 2007 and made a relatively poor start to the 2007-2008 season.

The supporters, of course, believe the Special One would have turned it around but after a Champions League match against Rosenborg, he was gone.

Since he departed no manager has had the kind of personality or charisma that could take him to the Portuguese's level.

Still loved: Chelsea fans unveil a banner in support of Mourinho at the game against West Brom