PELE AND MOURINHO WIN
BBC AWARDS
Pele and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho both won awards at the BBC
Sports Personality of the Year show.
Brazilian legend Pele received a lifetime achievement award, which
Mourinho presented to him.
Mourinho was named Coach of the Year after guiding Chelsea to last
season's Premiership title.
Former England midfielder Geoff Thomas won the Helen Rollason award
after battling leukaemia and raising money for charity through
cycling trips.
Pele made 92 appearances for Brazil, scoring 77 goals, and was a
winner at the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups.
Before receiving the award, recorded tributes were paid by football
greats Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Sir Bobby
Charlton.
"He was the best player in the history of football," said
Beckenbauer.
And after receiving the award, Pele said: "I am very mellow. I am
emotional. Thank you very much. I cry easily."
The 65-year-old described playing in his first World Cup as "a
dream" and that "England have a chance" going into the tournament
in Germany next summer.
Mourinho, when presenting the award, said of Pele: "I think he is
football. You have the real special one - Mr Pele."
Mourinho guided Chelsea to the Premiership title last season - the
first time they finished top of the English top flight since 1955 -
crowning a triumphant first season for him at Stamford
Bridge.
Chelsea are currently leading the Premiership and have qualified
for the knock-out phase of the Champions League - a competition
from which they were eliminated at the semi-finals stage last
season.
Mourinho was chosen ahead of contenders such as England cricket
coach Duncan Fletcher, Liverpool football boss Rafael Benitez and
Wales rugby chief Mike Ruddock.
"It is a great honour for me," said Mourinho after picking up his
award.
"Of the other three contenders they also deserve it and I think the
success of this last year belongs to my two families - the family I
have at home and the family I have at Stamford Bridge."
- credit: BBC
Sport