BREAKING NEWS: Jose Mourinho regains control over his own name after 20 years of Chelsea ownership! The full story of how the club finally released the trademark and what it means for the iconic coach’s future.
Chelsea Confidential reveals that after two decades of legal battles and financial control, Jose Mourinho has finally regained ownership of his own name from Chelsea FC.
For the last 20 years, strange as it may sound, the Portuguese football legend’s name was trademarked by Chelsea, allowing them to profit from selling merchandise bearing his name, including everything from mugs and posters to even lingerie. The original trademark was filed on April 4, 2005, when Mourinho was on the brink of securing his first Premier League title with the club. At that time, Chelsea had complete rights to use his name for all kinds of branded products, even for licensing to other clubs, such as when Manchester United nearly had to pay a large sum for permission to use his name for merchandise.
This legal oddity lasted even as Mourinho moved on from Chelsea to manage other top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Tottenham. The situation nearly led to a bizarre scenario in 2016, where Mourinho himself would have been unable to produce merchandise using his own name, while Chelsea would have held the exclusive rights to it.
But now, with a new ownership regime at Chelsea under BlueCo, the club has chosen not to renew the trademark. As of Friday, the 20-year-old trademark will officially expire, allowing Mourinho to regain control. It marks a victory for the coach who once became synonymous with the Blues.
However, there is still one final hurdle for Mourinho. The trademark of his signature remains in Chelsea’s hands until November 2025. Though this is a setback, it’s clear that Mourinho’s name—now free from Chelsea’s trademark—will once again be his to use for future endeavors.
What this means for Mourinho’s future endeavors is monumental. With the trademark over his own name, he can now capitalize on his own brand—something he has long been known for—and possibly sign new lucrative deals for merchandise, endorsements, or future ventures. It’s a symbolic victory for the legendary manager, who is now free from the financial grip of his former club.
This development has already sent shockwaves through the football world, with speculation swirling about potential business ventures for the “Special One.” Meanwhile, Chelsea fans can expect a chapter of nostalgia and reflection, as this marks the end of a peculiar legal battle between the club and one of its most ic
onic figures.
