Willian, Atsu and 8 other players Mourinho signed in his second Chelsea spell

Jose Mourinho was Roman Abramovich’s first appointed manager when the Russian oligarch took over the club in 2003. The Portuguese was an immediate success.

Some of the players he built his team around remained at the club and enjoyed sustained success for years. He managed the club again in 2013 and was successful, but only a few of his signings were.

Sports Brief looks at the ten players Mourinho signed in his second spell at Stamford Bridge and where they are now, as first analysed by Planet Football.

Players Mourinho signed at Chelsea

1. Andre Schurrle

The German joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013. He scored that brilliant goal against Burnley off Cesc Fabregas's assist and a hat-trick against Fulham. Per Football London, he got down with salmonella after eating chicken and ended his Chelsea career. He assisted Mario Gotze’s 2014 World Cup-winning goal. He retired in 2020 at 29.

2. Josimar Quintero

The Ecuadorian was signed as a teenager from FC Barcelona’s famous academy La Masia but never made an appearance for the Blues. At 26, he is without a club after leaving MLS third-tier club Real Monarchs in 2021.

3. Marco van Ginkel

He was famously dubbed the next Frank Lampard. Injuries made sure van Ginkel never reached the heights of his potential. He left Chelsea in 2021 and currently plays for his boyhood club Vitesse Arnhem.

4. Izzy Brown

The highly-rated attacker joined the London club from West Brom in 2013 but spent the majority of his time at the club on loan. He left Chelsea permanently in 2021 and joined Preston North End but failed to make an appearance. He announced his professional retirement in April due to recurring ACL injuries.

5. Mark Schwarzer

The Australian came in as a backup to Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois. He made just 12 appearances. He had a short spell with Leicester City before retiring from professional football in 2016.

6. Cristian Cuevas

The versatile Chilean joined in 2013, and like many others during the Roman empire, he spent six seasons on loan before leaving permanently in 2019. He currently plays for Universidad Catolica in the first division of his home country’s domestic league.

7. Stipe Perica

Another soldier in the loan army who never made it at Stamford Bridge. He was let go after only three years at Chelsea. He currently plays for Standard Liege in Belgium, having spent a year in English football with Watford in the Championship.

8. Willian

Per talkSPORT, the Brazilian had done medicals at London rivals Tottenham before Chelsea hijacked the deal for £32 million. He spent seven years at Stamford Bridge and won multiple trophies. He left for Arsenal in 2020 and returned to Brazil after a season. He is back in England with Fulham.

9. Samuel Eto’o

The African legend spent a season under his former boss at Chelsea. He left to join Everton in 2014. He was involved in an infamous age question saga with the Special One. He is retired and currently the president of Cameroon FA.

10. Christian Atsu

Atsu joined Chelsea in 2013, and despite being on the books for four years, he never made a competitive appearance. He joined Newcastle United permanently in 2017. He tragically passed away in February after he was caught under the rubble of a collapsed building in the Turkey earthquake.