The Portuguese coach swept into Stamford Bridge during the summer of 2004 on the back of his European success with Porto and promptly led the Blues to their first domestic crown since 1955, winning the English League Cup along the way for good measure.

They may have been beaten in the semifinals of the Champions League by eventual winners Liverpool, but that did not stop Mourinho being voted the BBC Sports Coach of the Year on Sunday night.

Chelsea are 12 points clear in the Premiership following their 1-0 win over Wigan on Saturday, and although they have been knocked out of the League Cup by Charlton, the Blues will head into the final 16 of the Champions League next year as favourites to go one better than last season.

Mourinho, though, accepted with such high goals, comes a need to deliver the goods time and again.

"I don't say it is difficult because I feel pressure, as I don't feel a lot of pressure, to be fair. But you know you have to get results," the 43-year-old reflected after having picked up his accolade at Sunday night's live TV show in London.

"You know it's not because of the success two years ago, five or 10 years ago - you have to be successful every year. Because of that, it is difficult.

"So when you are a manager of a club or a national team, you have the job that millions of people think they could have - so it's not very easy in that way."

Mourinho felt the accolade - voted for by the British public - was just as much for the efforts of everyone at Stamford Bridge.

"I feel this award, not as an individual award but as one to Chelsea's success, the success of the team, my players, my club, my board, people who support the club.

"When people recognise what you are doing and you can have trophy of this dimension, of course, it is very nice. I am very flattered."

He added: "What I like is that people recognise that I'm good at my job. Of course I cannot expect Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool fans to be in love with me, because I'm trying to take from them what they want."