Ex-Chelsea Defensive Midfielder on Mourinho's Odd Choice to Hand Him No.9 Shirt to Send Abramovich Message

The former Arsenal academy product joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 2007, before Mourinho boldly asked if he could take the number 9 shirt to send a message to Chelsea's hierachy.

When José Mourinho first arrived in England in 2004, he immediately made headlines not only for his charisma and sharp tongue but also for his mastery of so-called “mind games.” 

The Portuguese coach often found ways to outwit his opponents psychologically, unsettling rivals before a ball was even kicked. 

But as former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell has revealed, Mourinho’s mind games were not always reserved for those outside his dressing room — sometimes his own players became part of the act.

Sidwell Handed No.9 Shirt

Sidwell, who joined Chelsea from Reading in 2007 on a free transfer, recalls being surprised when Mourinho asked him if he would be comfortable taking the club’s iconic No.9 shirt — a number usually reserved for the team’s main striker.

“I was a midfielder, and when I arrived, he asked me if I minded taking the number 9 shirt. I said it was fine, because I thought he was testing me,” Sidwell told Sky Sports. 

“Then, they actually gave me the number 9, and when I told my friends, they couldn’t believe it — after all, I wasn’t a striker.”

At the time, Sidwell was 25 and eager to make an impression at a club full of stars. He didn’t think too deeply about Mourinho’s unusual request. But looking back almost two decades later, the former midfielder sees the move in a very different light.

A Message to the Board

Now 42, Sidwell believes Mourinho was using him as part of a wider battle with Chelsea’s board and owner Roman Abramovich. 

“Him giving me the number 9 shirt was José’s way of sending a message to the board,” Sidwell explained. “He wanted to buy a striker, they didn’t give him the money, so he gave the number 9 to a free transfer from Reading.”

It was classic Mourinho: unconventional, bold, and layered with meaning. The point was clear — he wanted reinforcements and would make sure the hierarchy knew it.

The story also foreshadowed the tension that soon boiled over. After just eight games of the 2007/08 season, Mourinho parted ways with Chelsea, despite previously delivering back-to-back Premier League titles. 

Sidwell, who came through Arsenal’s academy, endured a difficult campaign, scoring once in 25 appearances before moving on.