Ranking the 5 greatest forwards to play under Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho might have his fair share of critics but there's no denying that he is one of the greatest ever managers to grace the game.
The Portuguese has found success at almost every club he has managed so far. He's won league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain and has even managed to win the Champions League twice with two different clubs.
Many star forwards have plied their trade under Jose Mourinho
It's no secret that Jose Mourinho is known for his defensive style of play, with plenty of his success coming by building teams with solidity at the back. But the tactician also had some of the best forwards in football history play under his tenure at various clubs.
While some of them were already established stars when they first took the field for him, others became world-beaters under his guidance.
As such, we have ranked the five greatest forwards to play for Jose Mourinho. The forwards have been selected and ranked based on the number of goal contributions per game across all competitions while playing for Mourinho's team. So without any further adieu, let's take a look at them:
(Honorable mention: Angel Di Maria- 25 Goals & 60 Assists in 136 appearances)
#5 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Arguably Chelsea's best player in the last decade, Eden Hazard arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2012 and established himself as a key player for the Blues.
Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea the following summer, and Hazard enjoyed a fantastic first season under the Portuguese, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions.
However, Chelsea finished the season trophyless. The pair seemed likely to fall out after just one season when Hazard criticized Mourinho's tactics following the Champions League exit against Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Mourinho retorted by saying that the Belgian wasn't "mentally ready" to help his defense. Hazard managed to win Chelsea's Player of the Year award, but there were doubts regarding the forward's future at the club.
Those doubts vanished next season as the Belgian clearly bought into Jose Mourinho's philosophies and had a sensational 2014-15 season. The campaign saw him register 19 goals and 13 assists in all competitions as Chelsea won the Premier League and the League Cup double.
The Belgian was voted Chelsea's Player of the Year again. He also managed to win FWA Footballer of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, and PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
On this day, in 2015...
Chelsea secured our 4th Premier League title, after an Eden Hazard goal gave us all three points.
It was also Josè Mourinho’s 3rd PL title at the club. https://t.co/e6zo3iPf9w
Like most of Chelsea's squad, Hazard's form fell during the 2015-16 season which led to Jose Mourinho getting sacked by the club. However, Hazard's form during the previous two seasons definitely earned him a spot as one of the greatest ever forwards to play under the Portuguese. The Belgian made 125 appearances in total for Jose Mourinho, registering 36 goals and 30 assists.
#4 Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Jose Mourinho's best signing at Chelsea, Didier Drogba, was one of the Portuguese' key assets in Chelsea's title-winning squad.
Many fans questioned Jose Mourinho's judgment when he convinced Chelsea to pay a then-record £24 million to bring Drogba to Stamford Bridge. But those doubts were ultimately quashed as Drogba became one of Chelsea's greatest ever players.
His first season at Chelsea saw him help the club win their maiden Premier League title. He managed to score only 16 goals in all competitions that season. But the Blues' title had been built upon their defensive solidity and the best was yet to come from the Ivorian.
Drogba scored another 16 goals in the 2005-06 season. But his efforts in leading the line for Chelsea had significantly improved. When the season ended, Chelsea and Drogba had another Premier League title to their name.
The striker hit new heights in the 2006-07 season as he scored 33 goals in all competitions under Jose Mourinho. He even managed to win the Premier League Golden Boot with 20 goals although Chelsea could not manage to retain the title. They did, however, manage to win the League Cup and FA Cup.
Jose Mourinho departed Chelsea the following campaign, but that wasn't the end of his time with Drogba. "The Special One" returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013 and the following season Drogba returned to Chelsea as a free agent for one last campaign.
Although Drogba was mostly used as a backup that season, he still managed to chip in with seven goals in 40 appearances across all competitions. It resulted in another Premier League title together for the duo.
‘Jose Mourinho changed my life.’
Didier Drogba has spoken about his bond with the former Chelsea manager.
Watch: bbc.in/2S7V63u https://t.co/gjCjLS73jp
Drogba scored 73 goals and provided 40 assists in 186 appearances under Jose Mourinho. The Ivorian continues to share a unique bond with Mourinho, and has often credited the manager for changing his life.