Jose Mourinho helps Chelsea legend win league title in first managerial job

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Jose Mourinho sent words of wisdom to Chelsea legend Damien Duff before he dramatically won the Irish league title.

Shelbourne won their first League of Ireland Premier Division crown for 18 years on Friday night with a late 1-0 win away at Derry City.

Substitute midfielder Harry Wood scored in the 85th minute from a saved free-kick to spark wild celebrations from the travelling fans.

Duff, who joined Shelbourne as manager in November 2021, saw his side finish two points clear of defending champions Shamrock Rovers.

The former Ireland international was a huge success at club level with Chelsea as he won two Premier League titles and the League Cup.

All three trophies were won under legendary manager Mourinho, who was on hand to inspire his former player before Friday’s victory.

“I threw in, ‘What about Jose?'” Duff said via the Irish Independent when his assistant Joey O’Brien asked how he’d motivate his team.

“‘Why Jose?’ Because do I try and build, have we tried to build a siege mentality, us against the world like he did? Absolutely. It would be mad not to tap into him.

“So Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, there was posts on the Instagram page. Powerful lyrics, powerful words that would resonate and have a meaning to tie in for tonight.

“Then in the team meeting [on Friday] there was a private message from Jose speaking about what it takes to win a title as a team, as an individual.

“It blew the guys away. A video that was shown in the Everglades two hours before the game.”

Duff also revealed that he attempted to speak to Mourinho inside the jubilant Shelbourne dressing room with a call on FaceTime.

His former boss didn’t respond and he then had to donate €500 to the players’ celebration fund.

However, three-time Premier League victor and two-time Champions League winner Mourinho still gave Duff his support beforehand.

Duff made 88 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea with the Portuguese boss at the helm from 2003 to 2006.

The winger netted 13 goals and assisted another 17, and even scored in their classic Champions League 4-2 win over Barcelona.

Nearly two decades after they went their separate ways, Duff has been able to follow in Mourinho’s footsteps with a league title win.