Jose Mourinho begins his next challenge of trying to guide Chelsea to their second successive Premiership title away to Wigan today, but if any of his rivals hoped he was feeling the pressure, they are in for a nasty surprise.
The prospect of having to emulate a remarkable debut season in English football for the Portuguese might unnerve some managers, but Mourinho looks stronger than ever. The 42-year-old surpassed even his wildest boasts last season when Chelsea cruised not only to their first championship for 50 years, but did it by breaking a number of records along the way.
Chelsea were not taken too seriously as challengers by Arsenal and Manchester United before the start of the campaign, but the west London club ended it with a new best points tally in the top flight (95), fewest goals conceded (15), as well as most wins (29) and most clean sheets (24).
The worry for Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson is that Mourinho is feeling more relaxed going into his second season in charge. While some managers never find the time to switch off from the rigours of football, the self-proclaimed 'Special One' has such a strong team of staff at his disposal that he was happy to make two trips to the cinema with his two children this week, despite the start of the season looming.
'What do I do when I relax? I'm with my kids and the other day I went with them to see Fantastic Four ,' Mourinho said. 'For my kids it was the third time in a week, for me it was the second time. When the film was on, I don't think about Chelsea at all.
'Some managers may not be able to switch off, but it is not like that with me. I have the club very well organised, with top people working in different areas. They are in contact with me and I don't need to be involved 24 hours per day or go to the office at Stamford Bridge every day.
'Maybe that is because I have good help. Peter Kenyon [the chief executive] and people are doing their jobs and respecting their areas. We are working the same, but in separate areas. Maybe we have such a good working structure I don't have to be involved in that, but if we are talking purely football, we are organised.
But then it soon becomes clear as to how Mourinho can keep his cool when he starts talking about his life before he hit the big time as a football manager. The former Porto coach was already part of a rare breed in that his playing career was virtually non-existent, but he still got to the top.
However, his remarkable success is not the only thing that sets him apart. While he was learning his profession and coaching Vitoria de Setubal under-18s as a young man, he was also working with disabled children in his home town.
He has said that he would happily be doing the same work if his career had not taken off in the manner it did, but the experience has taught him many valuable lessons, including keeping a sense of perspective when winning the Premiership threatens to become all-consuming.
'I did it for three years and at the same time I was coaching Vitoria de Setubal under-18. I worked from 8am to 2pm and then had a train ing session at 4pm. I was happy. I think it taught me to think that we and especially the players are privileged people and sometimes you create a nightmare for nothing. I realised a lot about these kids and when I think of players and how they can make a war or be unhappy because they are not playing or not selected, it is ridiculous.
'It helped me the same way it helps people who travel to Africa and sees kids who are dying in every corner. I don't feel pressure because I have seen people with real problems. I was enjoying the job very much. You can imagine a kid who cannot walk and after two years the kid is already climbing stairs. It is a big victory.
'When I go home now and again, I see one of the kids because my city is a very small place. Football is less important, but I don't change my life now. I really love what I do and this is the life I always wanted and I don't change for nothing.
But if you think Mourinho is a good role model, he insisted that it is nothing compared with his wife, Tami. Mourinho knows that she will not allow their son and daughter to take their wealth for granted.
'My wife is even more important than me,' he said. 'My wife has a lot of values in that area. She is Portuguese, but because her father was in the military she was born in Angola. She has a big, big feeling with Africa, what is related to Africa, kids dying, bombs and disabled and all the misery in Africa. She is very influenced by that."