Fabio Borini

The 22-year-old notched his second of the tournament in Israel after completing a one-two and thrashing home from 20 yards with the aid of a slight deflection in the 80th minute.

But the strike proved merely a consolation for Borini and his international colleagues as a hat-trick by Thiago Alcantara ensured Spain defended the trophy it captured two summers ago.

Spain took the lead in the sixth minute when Alvaro Morata spun into space on the left hand side of the penalty box and fizzed a cross onto the head of Thiago to nod into a gaping net.

But Borini’s Italy responded before the 10-minute mark — Ciro Immobile beautifully controlled a long pass behind the Spanish defense and coolly dinked the ball over an onrushing David de Gea.

The Liverpool forward almost created a second goal for his country in the 24th minute, finding Alessandro Florenzi with a clever pass. The latter was denied smartly by De Gea.

Spain regained their advantage at the half-hour mark. Koke was afforded time and freedom to deliver into the area, where Thiago chested down and drilled, left-footed, beyond the goalkeeper.

Thiago completed a superb hat-trick in the 38th minute from 12 yards following an alleged foul on the rapid Cristian Tello by Italy defender Giulio Donati.

Spain grabbed a fourth midway through the second period to quell any hopes of an Italian comeback, with Isco adopting penalty duties and passing the ball comfortably into the bottom corner.

Borini added his name to the scoresheet and reduced the deficit for Italy with 10 minutes left on the clock, but no more goals followed and the striker had to settle for second place on this occasion.

On Sunday, Balotelli scored the game-winning goal in Italy’s 2-1 victory over Mexico. He was so excited about the 78th-minute strike that he went on Twitter and dedicated the goal to one of his friends: Drake.

this gol is for my bro @Drake !!! STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE HERE!!

—
Mario balotelli (@FinallyMario) June 16, 2013

We’re not sure why Balotelli dedicated his feat to the Canadian rapper. The two are known to be friendly, and Drake shouted out Balotelli in a song he released last year called “Enough Said.” We can only guess that the catchy song lyric took hold of Balotelli’s fingers and used them to do its bidding.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

A scout from an unnamed NFL team called Beckham last fall and offered him a chance to try out for the team as a kicker. The former England captain declined the invitation, according to the Mirror.

“A couple of scouts felt that David has the potential to become a kicker in the NFL team, and one actually put a call into him for a trial,” a source told the Mirror.

“It is no secret that David is one of the best in the business when it comes to accuracy and length in his passing. And he has stood on the greatest stages to perform magnificent feats with his feet.

“Major league [NFL] kickers can send the ball 40 yards straight — David has shown for the last 15 years he can do that week in week out.

“It was obvious too that if Becks took up the offer then any NFL franchise would be interested as his international appeal would generate billions in PR and commercial opportunities.

“The offer came in and he politely said that it wasn’t right for him. Perhaps in the next few months he could change his mind.”

At the time, Beckham was mapping out the final stages of his illustrious soccer career. He left the L.A. Galaxy in December and joined French club Paris Saint-German in February. His three-month swansong in European soccer saw him win a Ligue 1 (French first division) title, participate in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League and bid the game a tearful goodbye in his final appearance as a professional player.

Beckham scored 65 free-kick goals in his career, but that ability wouldn’t necessarily translate to gridiron success. He honed his world-famous technique over the years using soccer balls. How quickly he would adapt to a new ball, target, sport and surroundings is unknown. While NFL teams would love the international exposure and marketing opportunities Beckham’s presence would create, their primary business is winning football games.

Beckham will remain a busy man in his post-playing days. He serves as a global ambassador for China’s Super League (where he created some doubt over his kicking ability). He is in talks to buy a Major League Soccer expansion team, which would play in Miami, and Tom Cruise wants him to consider starring in action movies.

If those activities don’t quench Beckham’s thirst for life then, by all means, he should look into American football. He also should remember Ray Finkle, whose story showed us the dark side of life as an NFL kicker.

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Andy brings a wealth of global experience to the club having held senior positions at Hilton Hotels and the Cendant Corporation. He originally trained with Ernst & Young and most recently was chief financial officer at Guoman and Thistle Hotels.

“Our financial operations are a crucial part of the club’s business,” Ian Ayre, LFC managing director, said. ”As we continue with our growth it is essential that we have the right experience in these key positions. Andy has a long track record of delivering successful results in a variety of challenging roles.

“He will be responsible for all of the club’s financial management and I am delighted to announce this appointment.”

Hughes will join the club on Monday, July 8, 2013 and will be part of the club’s senior management team.

“I am very proud to join Liverpool Football Club — a brand that is recognized all over the world,” Hughes said about his appointment. “It’s an exciting time to be joining and there is real opportunity to further develop the club’s financial operations.”

The Intellectual Property Office says it has received Bale’s application for his “Eleven of Hearts” logo, which he intends to use on clothing, footwear, headgear and jewellery.

The logo has the No. 11 — his shirt number at Spurs — inside two hands made into the shape of a heart.

The IPO says in a statement that “no decision has been made on this application yet.”

Bale, who was named English football’s player of the year last season and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Manchester United, said in 2010 that the goal celebration is a gesture to his girlfriend Emma, with whom he had a daughter last year.

The 22-year-old recovered from a serious shoulder injury in time for the tournament in Israel — and on Saturday night against Holland all his work paid off.

The forward executed a clinical finish in the 78th minute after turning his man inside the penalty area, and it proved to be the only goal of the game.

“It was definitely one of my most important goals this season,” Borini said. “I also scored an important one when I returned from injury [against Newcastle in April], but this is more significant because it means we are through to face a great team in the final.

“It is especially important for all the guys who are here. We have come through unnoticed.

“I dedicate this goal to all of my teammates, to the staff, to my family, my friends, to all the Italians who have followed us, because it was a difficult year for me. My agent and my psychologist have also stayed close to me. That’s why I’m so elated — I had so many people to thank.

“Holland are a great team but we showed that we are also strong. We came back from a difficult first 45 minutes and consolidated as a team. We improved after that. We proved tonight that anything can happen, even after suffering for 90 minutes.”

The celebrations that followed Borini’s goal saw him mobbed by teammates and squad members on the touchline.

“I couldn’t think after the goal,” he said. “In truth I knew it would end this way, and I’m happy for myself and my teammates.

“[Devis] Mangia was right to pick me. I made sure I was at his disposal, recovering quickly [from injury with Liverpool] and proving it is possible to make a comeback from difficulty.”

Going into the final with defending champion Spain on Tuesday night, Borini insisted Italy would not be intimidated.

“We have proven that everything is possible,” he said. ”Now we will prepare and hope to get off to a good start in that game.”

The 59-year-old was hired as Manchester City’s manager Friday. His first official day on the job is June 24, but he’s already hard at work trying to fix what’s broken at City and ensure that his achievements surpass those of his predecessor, Roberto Mancini. Should he hit his targets and those of the club, the man known as the “engineer” will have built a legacy as one of the greatest soccer coaches of his era.

Pellegrini is almost universally admired by players he has coached over the last 25 years. His resume boasts numerous instances of success which he achieved both in South America and Spain. His sterling reputation in Europe was forged over the last nine years, as he took unfancied Villareal and, most recently, Malaga deep into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League. Neither club will ever be the same now that Pellegrini has passed through, and the feelings are mutual, according to the BBC.

“I’m not leaving because of financial ambition, but because of a project that will let me feel fulfilled,” Pellegrini said in May after announcing his Malaga departure. “On Sunday, I will take charge of my last match at the Rosaleda, Everyone has the right to follow their own path.

“My coaching staff and I have separated from Malaga but our union with this city will be eternal.”

Pellegrini’s fine work at Malaga (between November 2010 and last month) convinced the City hierarchy that he was the best man to take the club forward, but he only went there in the first place after a failed, one-year spell at Real Madrid. The Spanish giant hired him on June 2, 2009 — one day after Florentino Perez assumed the club’s presidency and embarked on a second “galacticos” period. Within three months, Pellegrini would fall out with Perez over transfers, but that didn’t stop him from guiding Real Madrid to a then club record 96 points in La Liga. The exceptional league campaign was muted by a runner-up finish to Barcelona, and a Round-of-16 Champions League exit sealed Pellegrini’s fate. Real Madrid fired him after the season, replacing him with Jose Mourinho.

Pellegrini comes to City with a reputation as a Champions League specialist. In 2006, he took one modest club (Villareal) to the semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition and came within two minutes of doing it again in 2012-13 (Malaga). His three-year contract with City gives him little time to stutter, but he should be successful if he applies the methods that saw Real Madrid rack up a record points tally. A league campaign in the mold of 2009-10, coupled with Champions League elimination in the Round of 16 would be more than enough to merit a second season, and Pellegrini’s teams are known to grow significantly in Year 2.

The factors Pellegrini needs to flourish at City are already in place. He seems to be marching lockstep with City CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain. The three held a number of strategy meetings before Pellegrini’s hiring was announced. City also secured the signatures of two of the new manager’s transfer targets, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas, for a combined £46 million ($72.2 million). An additional £90 million ($141 million) worth of reinforcements could be on the way in the form of Isco, Pepe and Edinson Cavani.

If there is or will be early friction between Pellegrini and his bosses, there are no early signs. The incoming manager chose the City project after speaking to Chelsa, PSG and an unnamed Russian club. City has considered top managers from England, Europe and beyond in its search for Mancini’s successor. Yet, Pellegrini’s commitment to integrating the best players from the club’s youth academy into the first team might have given him the edge over other candidates and sealed the union with City.

“Manuel is a hugely experienced and successful manager with a proven track record,” chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said. “We have been greatly impressed throughout the selection process by his philosophy, his attitude and his commitment to the long-term development of Manchester City. I am delighted that he has joined us.”

Pellegrini’s managerial style should be a refreshing change for City’s players. Mancini’s prickly personality cost him the support of many City stars as well as the favor of his bosses. Their collective determination to take City forward in the early days of Pellegrini’s tenure will undoubtedly be higher than it was during the last days of Mancini’s reign, now that managerial uncertainty is no longer an issue.

On April 6, Pellegrini showed a herculean level of selflessness when he led Malaga in a league game against Real Sociedad. His father died earlier that day, but he did his job and only informed his players of his father’s passing after the postgame news conference. The gesture resonated in the Malaga dressing room, cementing the bond between Pellegrini and his players.

“He will be with us tomorrow and we will try everything to advance for him,” defender Martin Demichelis said of Malaga’s Champions League quarterfinal game against Borussia Dortmund, which followed the loss to Real Sociedad.

“We would like to win this one for him. First our coach did not tell us about his father passing away, that shows his greatness.”

Perhaps Demichelis delivered his assessment in such a matter-of-fact manner because his manager’s grace didn’t surprise him. After all, Pellegrini led Malaga to European qualification (for 2013-14) while a cloud of uncertainty lingered over the team. Malaga’s owners withdrew funding for the team and failed to pay players, coaches and other staff for large swaths of the campaign.

Should Pellegrini’s personality rub City’s players like it did Malaga’s, getting them to play how he wants them to should not be a problem. Pellegrini’s teams are usually well-organized, intelligent and play with purpose. They strike a delicate balance between attack and defense, which makes them hard to beat on an off day and frightening when everything clicks. Technical players like David Silva, Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez tend to flourish in Pellegrini’s system, so the trio could enjoy resurgent campaigns next season. City’s squad is teeming with quality and more is on the way. With Manchester United and Chelsea in a period of upheaval and Arsenal trying to close the gap, City is perfectly poised to wrest domestic dominance away from United in 2013-14.

Mancini led City to FA Cup and Premier League glory in his three-and-a-half years in charge. Although he ended the club’s decades-long wait for a major trophy, there remains a sense that City underachieved with the Italian in charge. This feeling was merely crystallized by City’s repeated Champions League stumbles.

Pellegrini arrives at the Etihad Stadium on a mission to put City on sound footing in the Champions League. The key to success could lie in the one blemish on his resume. While many point to that season as a failure, Real Madrid’s league campaign — the work the team does on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis — suggests something far different.

Pellegrini wasn’t fired because he didn’t or couldn’t do the job of managing one of soccer’s elite clubs. He was fired for political reasons, as Perez was determined to hire a “galactico” manager to lead the players the club bought on his watch. Whatever went wrong between Pellegrini and Perez — the two reportedly stopped speaking in August 2009, nine months before Pellegrini was fired — shouldn’t rear its ugly head again at City. If that remains the case, Pellegrini will almost certainly win his first major trophy in Europe and find the “fulfillment” he seeks. The matter of hitting City’s target of five trophies in five years should be a mere formality.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Photo via Facebook/Manuel Pellegrini

The Chicago Bulls forward was recently photographed wearing an Arsenal jersey. He uploaded the picture to his Instagram account on Wednesday.

“Arsenal ke Brixton all day,” the caption said.

Deng, 28, was born in Sudan, but he and his family moved to Britain when he was a child. He became an Arsenal fan while growing up in South London. He cheered for the likes of Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams. He was also proud Gooner during the Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera era and remains one to this day.

Last summer, Deng told Arsenal.com that he was a very good soccer player. He loved to play the game  and even had a spell with one of England’s youth national teams.

Should Deng decide to drop basketball for the beautiful game, he need not worry about looking out of place.

See Deng in Arsenal colors below.

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Photo via Twitter/@fantedipicche

The Reds’ No. 2 had already revealed to Liverpoolfc.com earlier this year that he was undertaking Spanish lessons, and now the England international has discussed his desire to secure academic honors.

“I like challenging myself, finding that will from within to do something different and become better,” Johnson told the official Liverpool FC magazine.

“I’ve always liked maths. So I thought: ‘Why not?’ I’m not setting any major targets, putting myself under loads of pressure to complete everything within a certain time. An Open University degree is quite flexible. I’m coming up to the end of the second unit of three. There are different paths you can take with various options to reach the same end. As long as I keep enjoying it, I’ll keep doing it.

“There’s not a job in the world that maths can’t help you with. The average person probably doesn’t go through a single day without using it, whatever level you work at. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I finish with football but I’m sure that maths is going to help.

“I enjoyed maths but I didn’t enjoy school. I knew I could have been better than I was but I wasn’t interested as much as I should have been. I’ve thought about returning to it for a few years.

“Then at the start of this season I was having a conversation with someone and in a spur-of-the-moment decision I decided to go with it before I could change my mind. I joined the course and ordered the equipment that day to throw myself in the deep end.

“At the Open University it’s a case of learning at home so I’m not in a classroom. But it’s the first time since leaving school that I’m taking exams and trying to earn qualifications.”

The defender expanded further on how he manages studying around football commitments and admitted he never expected to be working toward a qualification in maths.

“The maths is convenient at the moment because the course starts in October and finishes in May/June. Obviously I’m not really keen on doing it while I’m on holiday,” he added. ”It fits in conveniently with the football. When I’ve finished training and while the kids are in school I’ll sit down for an hour on the bed and study. Sometimes I’ll do a bit longer.

“But I’m not really strict with myself and I’m not going to let it take over my life. I’ve done some exams and posted them in. So far I’ve done okay.

“It just proves to me that you never know what is around the corner and that if you want to do something badly enough, you can do it. The Spanish — maybe I could have seen myself doing that. But not the maths.

“When I was young I always admired people that could speak other languages. It’s an impressive skill. When I first came here, there were a lot of Spanish lads — lads with backgrounds like mine.

“I wanted to be able to do the same. It’s a good laugh as well. The other boys test me every day. Just by listening to conversations, you learn.”

Photo via LiverpoolFC.com

Aspas scored 12 goals in 34 games in 2012-13 despite playing for a side threatened with relegation until the final day of the season.

During the campaign, he was directly involved in 51 percent of his team’s goals.

The 25-year-old broke into the senior side at the Spanish outfit in 2009 after graduating from its youth set-up.

Aspas can play through the middle or out wide, and he could become Brendan Rodgers‘ second signing of the summer transfer window following a deal for Kolo Toure.

Stay tuned to Liverpoolfc.com for more over the coming days.

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Iago Aspas

On Thursday, the soccer superstar told nearly 19,000,000 Twitter followers that he has not signed a new contract with Real Madrid.

All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false.

—
Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 13, 2013

Ronaldo’s message flies in the face of recent reports which say he is set to extend his stay in the Spanish capital. His current deal runs until 2015, and club president Florentino Perez promised to make the Portuguese forward the highest-paid player in the world if he signs a contract extension.

Ronaldo shocked Real Madrid (and the soccer world) last summer when he said he was “sad” at the club and reportedly told Perez that he wanted a transfer. Real Madrid refused to sell him, but that didn’t stop potential suitors from stepping forward. Manchester United, PSG and AS Monaco are believed to be willing to spend up to £85 million ($133.4 million) to sign him this summer. If Ronaldo rejects Real Madrid‘s contract offer, the club would have little choice but to sell him, since his transfer value will decrease as 2015 approaches.

Ronaldo recently put his $7 million villa up for sale, suggesting he is ready to end a Real Madrid career that has seen him score 201 goals in 199 games over the last four seasons.

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The Reds were eliminated from all three knockout competitions they entered in 2012-13 as Rodgers coped with having a small and inexperienced squad.

Seven academy players were drafted in for debuts during the campaign — though the boss was able to add proven talent with the signings of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in January.

Their arrival was a factor in an upturn in form during the second half of the campaign, and Rodgers hopes similar success in the transfer market over the coming months will enable Liverpool to challenge on all fronts.

“This time, we’ll certainly give the League Cup and the FA Cup a proper go — we have a much better squad to do that,” he said. ”We had a paper-thin squad last year, we had kids all the way through. Obviously those players who have come in have added quality and it’s no coincidence that we have kicked on when we’ve had quality in the group.

“We need to improve the group and the depth but that’s what gives me great hope for the summer. If we can add that, we can make a real start and then we’re ready to challenge.”

Rodgers has already secured a deal in principle to bring Manchester City’s Kolo Toure to Anfield, helping to fill the void left by retiring defender Jamie Carragher.

On the potential make-up of his squad when the 2013-14 season kicks off, he added: “You can flip it about, but it’s the depth really. We just need to build up the depth of the squad.

“I want to have people who might be disappointed because they’re not even on the bench. At the minute we probably don’t have that so it’s competition we want to get.

“I don’t want a massive group, we want a tight group with a real core of 17 or 18 players who feel they should always be playing and then supported by a few of our top young talents.”

Javier Mascherano

Of the many red cards Mascherano has seen in his career, the one he earned on Tuesday must be the most absurd. The 29-year old was sent off near the end of Argentina’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ecuador for kicking the driver of the medical cart that was taking him off the field.

Mascherano suffered an injury which required medical attention in the 86th minute. As the cart carried him toward the sidelines, he  inexplicably kicked the driver in his arm and shoulder. Referee Enrique Caceres saw this, waited until Mascherano got off the cart and dismissed the Argentina captain from the game — presumably for violent conduct.

The real violence almost followed, as Mascherano tried to fight Caceres. Teammates and riot police had to separate them, but the damage was already done. The Argentina and Barcelona star is facing at least a three-game ban for his action.

ESPN reports Mascherano was apologetic after the game. He added that he had a good reason for kicking the driver.

“I feel ashamed,” he said. “You must always be against violence. The truth is I made a mistake. It is not nice that you get sent off in such a way, and generate such a controversy.

“The cart was going too quickly, I was moving around and thought I might fall. We told the medic to go slower, he ignored me and I reacted. But, I repeat, it was not justified.”

If Mascherano ever finds himself wondering “Why always me?,” this is why.

Watch Mascherano kick the cart driver in the video below.

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The Liverpool midfielder was his country’s skipper when it won the European U-17 Championship back in 2010.

Manager Peter Taylor today handed him the armband for the forthcoming tournament in Turkey.

And Coady is eager to lead by example once again and guide the Young Lions to glory.

“To be captain at any tournament is fantastic, but to be England captain at the U-20 World Cup finals is superb. I couldn’t be happier at the minute,” he told FATV.

“I’d love to repeat [the 2010 win]. We’re focused going into the tournament. The team cannot wait for it. We’ll go and do the best we can.

“I feel like I’ve had a good season and I’ve really improved on my game and the things I wanted to improve on. So I just need to carry on in that way and keep improving.”

Reds fullback Jon Flanagan will join Coady in Taylor’s squad for the tournament.

Also in the set-up for the trip to Turkey are Everton’s Ross Barkley and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, as well as the man who fired a hat-trick for Manchester United against Liverpool in the Barclays U-21s Premier League semi-final, Larnell Cole.

Coady, therefore, is surrounded by familiar faces.

“We all know each other from playing against each other and all the lads are fantastic,” continued the skipper. ”We’re all good mates and there’s a great team spirit in the camp. All the lads came over and shook my hand and gave me a hug when they found out I was captain.

“We’re all happy for each other here when someone plays and I’m really happy at the minute.”

England will get its campaign underway with a clash against Iran on June 23.

It will take on Chile three days later before finishing the group stage by facing Egypt on June 29.

Up until now the group has trained at various camps around England — and Coady is relishing the prospect of flying out to Turkey and getting the tournament started.

“The training camps have been fantastic and it’s been good to get to know the boys and get to know how we’re going to play,” he said. “But we just want to get out there now.

“We’ll be sweating a bit out there [due to the intense heat] but we can’t wait to get out there and start the tournament.”

Photo via LiverpoolFC.com

Fabregas has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City in recent weeks, but he only intends to stay at Barcelona as long as the club wants him there, according to Sky Sports.

“I have not opened my mouth once,” Fabregas reportedly told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. ”It has taken a lot for me to get where I am and I am not thinking about throwing it all away for nothing.

“If they [Barcelona] said that they didn’t want me that would be another thing, what I really want is to triumph at Barca, that has been my dream since I was small.”

Fabregas has been a Barcelona regular since returning to the Camp Nou in 2011, but he hasn’t established himself as an automatic starter. He often watches big games from the substitutes’ bench, and his failure to win over manager Tito Vilanova (and many Barcelona fans) has fueled speculation that he’s ready to return to the Premier League. However, the 26-year-old insists he will stay with his boyhood club.

“The important thing in life is to accept the good and also bad moments when they happen,” he added. “If they [the crowd] whistle me I have to accept it. I am the first person that knew it would be the biggest challenge of my life [to play at Barcelona]. I only want to play. Barca is my home, I have always dreamed of triumphing here.

“Up until now everything has gone well. The important thing is to work and work so that you enjoy it more than you don’t.”

Fabregas spent eight seasons with Arsenal, and the Gunners have the first option to buy him back should he decide to leave Barcelona. That hasn’t discouraged both Manchester clubs from monitoring the situation, as they consider bidding around £40 million ($62.6 million) for the midfielder.

Publicly, Barcelona says it wants to keep Fabregas, but that may not be the case behind closed doors. In April, a source close to the club told the Star (newspaper) that it would consider selling him in order to raise funds for defensive reinforcements. Meanwhile, Fabregas says he wants to stay, but his infant daughter, who was born in April, lives with her mother Daniella Semaan in London. Fabregas is believed to be keen on raising the child as a family in England. Playing in Spain for Barcelona would make that difficult.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Mourinho’s Chelsea return mixes two classic stories. There’s a hint of the parable of the prodigal son (or prodigal “daddy” as far as Michael Essien is concerned) and a heavy dose of rekindled love — the one where two old flames reunite and try to make the second time around better than the first.

The tale of the prodigal son ends with a celebration. Like the father after the return of his long-lost son, Chelsea fans are overjoyed at Mourhino’s second coming. After all, he made Chelsea into a trophy-winning club, and it’s only natural for fans to base their wildest dreams of the Mourinho-led future on past glories. While the tale of the prodigal son ends in celebration, Mourinho’s second stint at Chelsea begins with the welcome-home party.

The larger part of Mourinho’s Chelsea story is more complicated. How often does a rekindled love affair (“the backslide” in layman’s terms) work out in the end? We don’t have the statistics on hand, but the fact that it’s always a big deal when second-time loves actually do work out should serve as the spit in the proverbial punch bowl.

In his first news conference as second-time Chelsea manager, Mourinho was adamant that he wasn’t dumped the first time around. He said he and and owner Roman Abramovich decided to part ways — by mutual consent — back then. Each thought he would be better off without the other. Almost six years have passed, and they now want and need the same thing.

“So it was a difficult decision at that time for both of us, but a decision made by mutual agreement,” Mourinho said. “Only because there was never a break of a relation, it’s possible I’m here today. It wouldn’t be possible being here if we’d had real problems, no relations. I’m back because we feel we are in a moment of my professional life — and in the case of the owner also a moment of his career as an owner — where we are probably in the best moment of our careers, and ready to work together again and with much better conditions this time to succeed and have what this club wants: which is stability.”

Having the same wants and needs is a good starting point in any relationship (new or restored), and it also helps when the timing is right. Mourinho wandered and won from 2008-13. Chelsea rode a carousel of managers as it packed the trophy case during the same period. The self-proclaimed “Happy One” says stops in Italy (Inter Milan) and Spain (Real Madrid) improved him as a manager, but he longed for something more permanent. Chelsea’s tumultuous period also taught Abramovich a valuable lesson. While his club may be able to cycle through managers and keep winning, it will never have an identity — one that fans around the world love, respect and fear — as long as the carousel spins out of control.

Mourinho is back at Chelsea to give it an identity, instilling what he calls “game principles” into the fabric of the club. It is among the loftiest goals a soccer manager can have. Europe’s leading clubs often have distinct styles of play, and the top clubs dress their perennial success in their unique styles. Mourinho’s teams, from Chelsea to Real Madrid, have his imprint: power and aggression, mixed with skill and focus. It won’t be long before Chelsea is playing what I like to call “JoseBall” again.

“It’s the job of the manager not just to focus on what you do when you’re here, but on the legacy and contribution you leave for the future,” Mourinho said. “In this moment, it’s a moment for a different approach. Not losing my nature, which is the nature of the club too — trying to win is not just my nature, but that of the club too — and Mr Abramovich too. I think we are all prepared for a different era with a different profile of team. My fingerprint has to be… a football team without the fingerprint of its manager is never a football team, even if it looks like it is. We want an identity even more present.”

Mourinho’s Chelsea contract runs until 2017, and he spoke of wanting to continue beyond then. If he achieves what he sets out to do, it would be no surprise to see him extend his stay through the end of the decade. That would see his influence at Chelsea effectively stretch from 2004 to 2019 (or beyond) — a reign which would put him in the same company as Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Their presences defined eras in the history of their respective clubs.

But Mourinho will only join such exalted names if he continues to evolve and improve as a manager. Adventures at Europe’s top clubs helped him do that during his “formative” years. How he develops now that he is back home will determine the course of his second relationship with Abramovich and Chelsea. Mourinho set the standard in his first Chelsea reign. The success he and Chelsea enjoyed during their time apart only raised the expectations of Abramovich, Chelsea fans and Mourinho himself.

Winning the Premier League title is the first step. Mourinho says that could take two seasons. Challenging the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona for European supremacy will take longer. Real Madrid couldn’t win that coveted 10th European Cup playing “JoseBall.” Was it bad luck or did Europe’s best figure out how to beat Mourinho? Mourinho also says he must improve Chelsea’s current players, rather than sign new and expensive ones. Working without a blank check and total control (Abramovich advisor Michael Emenalo will keep his job as technical director) of transfers isn’t optimal for Mourinho, but it’s a fact of his new reality.

Mourinho inherits a talented but flawed Chelsea squad. Building it into a title contender will take something more than time. Mourinho must rely on a different set of skills than he did at Chelsea (the first time), Inter and Real Madrid. At those stops, he inherited great squads, signed star players and gave them the last push they needed to get over the finish line and become champions. While his reputation and Abramovich’s money will attract young stars in the future, he won’t have the top players of the present at his disposal when he gets to work.

Mourinho faces different circumstances and new challenges after returning to Chelsea. His and Abramovich’s wants and needs have changed over the years, but they are, in essence, the same people who split back in 2007. That combustible combination caused their relationship to crack as early as a year into Mourinho’s first Chelsea stint. Time will tell how they react when their relationship gets rocky again … and again … and again.

The 50-year-old Mourinho is happy to be home, and he intends to stay for a long time. In order to do so, he must draw strength and energy from the challenge of restoring Chelsea to glory and use it as he walks that long road toward building a legacy. That will only come through continued self improvement. How he will do it in a place where he is comfortable and surrounded by people who love him will be central to his and Chelsea’s future.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The 20-year-old wears the armband for the Reds’ U-21s team and will transfer his leadership qualities to Peter Taylor‘s aspiring outfit. Jon Flanagan has also been selected for the tournament.

England begins its assault on the title with a Group E clash against Iraq on June 23. It takes on Chile three days later before completing the group stage by facing Egypt on June 29.

Coady has made 35 appearances at various youth levels for his country; the local lad made his Liverpool debut during 2012-13 and also featured in his first Barclays Premier League match.

Thumbnail photo via Liverpoolfc.com

At the first news conference of Mourinho’s second Chelsea stint, there was less of the bravado that characterized his first introduction in 2004.

Back then, Mourinho described himself as a “Special One.” But on Monday he declared: “I am the Happy One.”

Mourinho insisted that his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich had not broken down when he left abruptly early in the 2007-08 season, after leading Chelsea to its first league title in 50 years in 2005 and successfully defending it the following season.

Seven managers have led Chelsea since 2007, as Mourinho went on to coach Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

“We are ready to work together and [have] much better conditions this time to succeed and have what this club wants, which is stability,” Mourinho told more than 200 reporters inside Stamford Bridge.

The charismatic and fiery manager left Madrid earlier this month after falling out with the team’s fans and parts of the Madrid hierarchy, but the 50-year-old Portuguese coach now says he has mellowed.

Asked about his temperament, Mourinho said: “Calmer? I believe so.”

“I am better able to manage my emotions, calmer in victory, less depressed in defeat,” he added.

Mourinho also won the FA Cup once and two League Cups during his first stint at Chelsea, but failed to give Abramovich the Champions League trophy the Russian cherished above all other titles.

Europe’s top prize, which Mourinho won at FC Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010, was delivered to Chelsea by Roberto Di Matteo in May 2012.

“[The] Champions League cannot be an obsession for me because I was happy to win it twice,” Mourinho said. “I don’t think it’s an obsession for Chelsea because Chelsea has won it.”

Raheem Sterling

The Reds have been out of the UEFA Champions League since 2009-10, but 18-year-old Sterling believes the foundations laid by Rodgers during his maiden season mean the club will be back among Europe’s elite sooner rather than later.

“We just need to get a good start to the next season and hopefully maintain that, and 100 percent I think we’ve got a good chance of finishing in the top four,” Sterling said.

The Jamaican-born star made his England debut last November in a friendly against Sweden, but injury meant he sat out the end of 2012-13.

His aim for next season is simple.

“For me at Liverpool, 100 percent it’s about cementing a starting place in the team, getting a good run of games and hopefully getting some goals for the club, and obviously assists as well,” Sterling continued. ”If I do that then hopefully I’ll get a pick for the England squad.”

It was Kenny Dalglish who granted a 17-year-old Sterling his senior debut against Wigan at the back end of 2011-12 — but it has been under Rodgers that his career has come to life.

“I can’t talk any more highly of him as a person, not just as a manager,” he said of Rodgers. ”He’s a top guy. He’s one of those who isn’t only interested if you’re playing well at that moment. He looks at players who are not playing or young players.

“Liverpool should be really grateful they’ve got a manager like that.”

On Wednesday, Arsenal made a transfer bid for Marouane Fellaini. The £22 million ($34.2 million) offer leaves the Belgian midfielder free to negotiate personal terms with Arsenal, and Everton is powerless to stop him, according to Goal.com.

“The Gunners have activated the release clause in the Everton midfielder’s contract and are confident of wrapping up a deal for the 25-year-old in the coming weeks,” the report says.

“Goal understands that Arsenal made the club-record bid on Wednesday, the same day that Roberto Martinez was appointed the new Everton manager.”

Fellaini has been one of the Premier League’s standout performers in recent seasons. The 25-year-old combines size, strength, speed, skill and versatility to influence games from the midfield. He joined Everton from Belgium’s Standard Liege in 2008 for a club-record £15 million ($22.8 million). His value has steadily increased over the last five seasons, and so has the level of interest from other clubs.

Fellaini’s contract expires in 2016, but there’s little chance he will stay at Goodison Park until then. In September, he not only went public about his desire to compete in the UEFA Champions League, but also revealed that his contract contained a release clause. Many tipped him to switch clubs during the January transfer window, but the expected bids did not materialize.

The Gunners are reportedly ready to spend as much as £70 million ($109 million) on new players this summer. Fellaini is among Arsenal’s transfer targets, which are thought to include a goalkeeper, central defender and at least one striker.

A host of other teams remain interested in Fellaini’s services. Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City were believed to be leading the race to his signature, but Arsenal appears to have made the first concrete move. It would come as no surprise if the trio of clubs — the top three finishers in the 2012-13 Premier League — also lodge bids which trigger the release clause. Fellaini would then have his choice of clubs from which to choose, and he would most likely base his decision on sporting and financial factors.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.