The dictionary definitions make interesting reading. Special - surpassing what is common or usual. Special - distinct among others of a kind.
Jose Mourinho certainly ticks the second box - no-one does off-the-wall quite like the flamboyant Portugeezer.
But as Mourinho brings down the curtain on three years at Real Madrid, and prepares for an emotional return to Chelsea, does he still surpass what is common or usual?
Mour of the same: Chelsea fans are desperate for Jose to return to Stamford Bridge
The Stamford Bridge faithful will bellow 'yes' in unison, convinced that the man who gave them five trophies in three years will work the miracle again.
Over at the Bernabeu, there is a feeling that the Special One's sheen has attracted some tarnish.
Even Mourinho described this season as the worst of his life after an average campaign dipped into unacceptable with the Copa del Rey final defeat by neighbours Atletico.
Scowling Jose has always been a sore loser. Nothing wrong with that. But the mood-ometer seems to have swung permanently to petulance as far as the Spanish media are concerned.
A season-long feud with goalkeeping icon Iker Casillas, who happens to have a TV presenter girlfriend, has not helped. Stories of strife have not so much leaked as flooded out of the changing rooms.
Highs and lows: Mourinho's reign at Real Madrid never strayed too far from controversy
Mourinho regards himself as Hollywood box office. Recent events in Madrid have sadly been more soap opera.
Now he is 'coming home', to where he is loved. And the Special One needs to show his special touch, if he still has it.
When he swaggered down the King's Road in June 2004, he had just won the Champions League with Porto (patenting the sliding-on-the-grass-on-your-knees managerial celebration against Manchester United on the way).
Arsenal were the Invincibles but Mourinho did not give a damn. He thumbed his nose at his other rivals too, announced that Claudio Ranieri deserved the sack for being a failure, and promptly delivered a Barclays Premier League title – Chelsea's first in half a century.
By the time he was sacked, in September 2007, his tally read two titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.
Say hello, wave goodbye: Real president Florentino Perez announces Jose's exit and Blues fans rejoiced
So to Inter Milan, Serie A champions in 2009 and treble winners a year later – League, Coppa Italia and Champions League.
Mourinho's stock continued to rise. Real Madrid needed someone to end years of failure in the Champions League and to challenge the unstoppable force that was Barcelona.
Three years on, he has delivered one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey and one Supercopa plus three Champions League semi-final defeats.
Whether it was because of his Barcelona connections – he was at the Nou Camp with Bobby Robson – there was immediate friction with Spanish media, who have been waiting for him to make a paella of it.
Out on a low: Mourinho was sent to the stands and Ronaldo was sent off in the cup final defeat by AtleticoWinner: Jose landed successive titles with Chelsea
The anti-Mourinho camp will point to his three-year record in comparison to other managers who lasted that long at the Bernabeu. Decent but hardly special.
Dutch master Leo Beenhakker managed to win three titles, one Copa and two Supercopas between 1986-1989.
Jose Vilalonga delivered two European Cups and two championships between 1954-57. Milan Milanjic’s tally between 1974-1977 was two domestic titles, one Copa.
The pro-Mourinho camp will counter that with the fact the Portuguese, who has won four domestic leagues in four different countries, led Real Madrid to their first La Liga success in four years, their first Copa after 18 and their first Champions League semi-final for eight.
For Roman Abramovich, the holy grail is the Champions League. Roberto Di Matteo succeeded where Mourinho failed on that score while Carlo Ancelotti went on to prove Chelsea could win a title without Jose too.
Things have changed from Mourinho's first spell. A pragmatic team has become a flair side and there is a technical director with some clout.
What is still missing is someone with that special touch. Over to you, Jose.
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