‘Never the Special One for me’ – Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink blasts Jose Mourinho after brief spell together
CHELSEA legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has slammed his former manager Jose Mourinho.
The pair worked together for a brief spell at Chelsea in 2004 when the Portuguese boss first took over the club.
He allowed Hasselbaink to join Middlesbrough on a free transfer despite a great stint at the West London side.
The Dutch striker joined for then club record £15million but Mourinho replaced him with Didier Drogba.
Hasselbaink told Kammy and Ben’s Proper Football podcast about leaving the club: “I was absolutely gutted. More gutted because Mourinho never spoke to me.
“I bet you that Mourinho had been told that I was a difficult lad, hard to work with and all that kind of stuff – which was not the case at all.
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“They got Drogba – what a signing – but surely I could have featured alongside him. I’ve spoken to Mourinho, he said, ‘yes, I made a mistake there.’
“I don’t care what he said. He should have kept me and I would have had a medal.
“He’s a brilliant coach, absolutely magnificent what he’s done in football, but he was never the special one for me.”
The current Roma gaffer dubbed himself the ‘Special One’ on his arrival to the Premier League.
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He went on to win two Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup and a Community Shield in the following three seasons.
Mourinho then left Chelsea to have successful spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid before returning to Stamford Bridge.
As for Hasselbaink, his 87 goals for the Blues could not be topped at Boro where he netted 33 times.
The 50-year-old is currently managing Burton Albion and is under pressure from fans with some wanting him sacked after a poor start to the League One season.