Chelsea Disgrace: BR reacts to Mourinho's handshake snub. Football Psychopath?

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has a well-earned reputation as one one of the most graceless managers in the modern game, and after the Blues' soporific victory over Liverpool this afternoon, the Portuguese displayed his breathtaking lack of class once again with his churlish refusal to shake Brendan Rodgers's hand.

In his typically undignified manner, Mourinho, the undisputed King of Crass, disappeared down the tunnel at the final whistle, and totally ignored Rodgers, who was on his way over to offer his hand.

When asked about the snub in his post-match press conference, Rodgers played down the issue, and told reporters:

"It's always how we work in this country, but I won't get hung up on it".

No wonder Mourinho is one of the most despised managers in the game. Would it have killed him to show a small measure of professional courtesy towards Rodgers, who clearly holds the Portuguese in high regard.

In the build-up to today's game, Rodgers went out of his way to be complimentary and gracious about Mourinho, but the Chelsea boss didn't even have the common decency to acknowledge someone who is supposed to be his friend.

Absolutely pathetic.

It's hardly surprising, though. In my view, Mourinho displays all the traits of the football version of a corporate psychopath, a definition of which is provided by Dr. Robert Hare in his book 'Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work':

"Corporate psychopaths are glib, superficially charming...have a grandiose sense of self-worth, lack remorse, are callous, lack empathy, and fail to take responsibility for their actions"

The theory is usually applied to financial/business types, but the common traits are found in people in all lines of work, including football. In his book 'Office Politics: How to Thrive in a World of Lying, Backstabbing and Dirty Tricks' (a damn good read), psychologist Oliver James laid out the 12 tell-tale signs of corporate psychopaths:

* Exploit and trick others for self-advancement.
* Use lies and deception to get their way.
* Used ingratiation/superficial charm to get their way.
* Manipulate others for selfish reasons.
* Don't feel regretful or apologetic after doing something wrong.
* Don't worry about whether their behaviour is ethical.
* Lack empathy and are crassly unaware of the distress they can cause others.
* Dim view of humanity, and often attribute nasty motives/selfishness to others.
* Hungry for admiration.
* Want to be the centre of attention.
* Aim for higher status and signs of their importance.
* Take it for granted that other people will make extra efforts to help them.

Adapted to football, this is Mourinho - in his capacity as a football manager - to a tee. He may be the complete opposite in private (and may even be deliberately cultivating the persona), but over the last fifteen years, there are countless examples of these negative traits in Mourinho's football-related behaviour, and his crass, selfish refusal to shake Rodgers' hand today is just the latest example.

Football clubs tend to mirror the personality of their manager, and that's definitely the case with Chelsea, which is an empty, mean-spirited, superficial club, with no real heart, depth, warmth, or humility.

In other words, the complete opposite of LFC.

Brendan Rodgers, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of Mourinho, and is (thankfully) as far removed from the corporate psychopath profile as it's possible to be. LFC's boss is genuinely empathetic, and his warmth, friendliness, class, humility, and dignity are synonymous with the very best qualities of Liverpool FC.

Mourinho may be a winner, but his victories will always be pyrrhic in nature. No matter how talented and charismatic he is, a psychopath can never (IMO) be truly revered, which, ironically, is what the Portuguese probably desires the most.

Author: Jaimie K