Jose Mourinho named seven players that he most enjoyed working with over his 15-year coaching career, and he did not include Michael Essien.

The Ghanaian who famously said previously that the Portuguese was his 'daddy' was signed to Chelsea by Mourinho and even spent a whole season on loan at Spanish giants, Real Madrid when the self acclaimed 'Special One' was at the helm at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it appears Essien is not so special after all in the books of Mourinho.

Real Madrid full back Alvaro Arbeloa is a surprise name on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's list of the players he has most enjoyed working with across his 15-year career as a manager.

Mourinho named seven 'team men' that were the 'manager's right arm' under his stewardship during his time at Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid with Arbeloa one of his seven special ones.

John Terry, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were all included having spanned the boss' two Chelsea spells, while Marco Materazzi, Javier Zanetti and Xabi Alonso completed the group.

Despite having won the World Cup and the Champions League, former Liverpool full back Arbeloa is the most surprising name on the list having rarely earned rave reviews for his displays in Madrid.

Speaking of players who give 'everything they can' with their efforts on the pitch, Mourinho said: 'People like Materazzi, Zanetti, Lampard, Drogba, Terry, Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa.

"Guys who were born to be at that level, born to be team men. Not the ego. Not super-quality as a player in some cases - but team men. The manager's right arm," Mourinho explained.
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