As Jose Mourinho’s all-conquering Chelsea side wrapped up the title with three games to go, ‘The Special One’ secured his third Premier League title in his fifth full season at Stamford Bridge.

Add to this his three league titles, his four major domestic cups and his English trophy cabinet takes a mightily impressive shape. But where does Mourinho rank in the list of the greatest managers in the Premier League era?

Since his arrival on English soil for his first spell in 2004, Mourinho has captivated and entranced both media and supporters like few others have; but he is far more than a media darling.

The Chelsea boss has taken charge of 193 top flight games; in those games he has managed to take maximum points in 135. His 70% win percentage is the best of any boss since the Premier League’s inception, even eclipsing Sir Alex Ferguson, albeit with over 600 games less than the legendary Scot.

With 13 titles, Ferguson has a record that will more than likely never be eclipsed; if Mourinho is to deliver another 10 titles in a period of dominance in West London then he can stand up to the former United boss. Until then his successes pale in significance, a minor blip compared to the long standing dynasty that was built in Manchester.

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Aside from Ferguson Jose stands up to anyone else, Arsene Wenger arguably revolutionised football management in this country. He was the first to put importance on sports science and it paid dividends, he, like Mourinho delivered three titles in a six-year spell. However, since his ‘Invincibles’ lifted the trophy in 2004, they have failed to reach the heights and the Frenchman is still awaiting his fourth league success.

Mourinho has managed to constantly adapt and evolve, never afraid to alienate big personalities and has consistently built world class teams; Wenger’s over reliance on one style has arguably cost both him and his club further success in recent years, it is difficult to imagine the Chelsea boss being so stuck in his ways in a period of relative struggles.

In a division where the top four is so exclusive to the rest of the division, almost like a mini-league; performances against the other members are vitally important.  In 40 games against fellow ‘big boys’ Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal, Jose has only tasted defeat three times; it is a record which strikes fear into the competition. If a team are to win the league they will have to beat Chelsea, and they rarely do.

As Mourinho now hits the 200 game mark at Chelsea, it is now he can start to build a case to overthrow the master. No one else stands in his way in terms of being the greatest manager this league has seen. Wenger has a period of consistency but Jose has delivered success consistently.

To be talked about in the same breath as Sir Alex shows how much success he has had in a relatively short space of time on these shores; in ten years-time if Mourinho’s records are even similar to the ones that he has now, there will be no discussion. ‘The Special One’ will be ‘The Greatest One’.

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