On a crisp autumn evening at Stamford Bridge, where the floodlights cast a golden hue over the hallowed turf, football’s relentless march paused for a moment of pure nostalgia. It was October 1, 2025, and Chelsea were hosting Benfica in the Champions League league phase – a fixture that crackled with subtext, pitting the Blues against their former manager, Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese tactician, now at the helm of the Portuguese giants, returned to west London amid chants of adoration from the home crowd, a far cry from the frosty receptions of his post-Chelsea visits. But away from the pitchside drama and the 1-0 victory sealed by Richard Rios’ unfortunate own goal, a quieter, more touching reunion unfolded in the media room. Brian Pullman, Chelsea’s legendary press steward who had bid farewell to the club after 56 years of service in 2024, had slipped back into the shadows of Stamford Bridge. His mission? To hand-deliver a packet of custard creams – Mourinho’s guilty pleasure – ensuring “The Special One” felt right at home, one biscuit at a time.

Pullman’s gesture wasn’t born of obligation but of an unbreakable bond forged over decades of shared triumphs and heartaches. A lifelong Blue since attending his first match as a schoolboy in 1948, Brian’s official tenure began on August 14, 1968, stewarding a game against Nottingham Forest. Over the ensuing 56 years, he became the club’s unofficial ambassador to the world’s media – the smiling face greeting journalists at Cobham training ground, the steady hand organizing press conferences at Stamford Bridge, and the quiet confidant to managers and players alike. His retirement in May 2024 was a tearful affair, marked by tributes from everyone from Mauricio Pochettino to veteran reporters. “Brian is Chelsea,” the then-manager had said, encapsulating the man’s essence: unassuming, unwavering, and utterly indispensable. Yet here he was, 17 months later, defying the quiet life of retirement for a man who had once transformed the club into European royalty.

Mourinho’s affinity for custard creams is the stuff of club folklore. During his first spell at Chelsea (2004-2007), when he arrived as a brash 41-year-old fresh off Porto’s Champions League glory, Brian noticed the Portuguese’s fondness for the humble British treat. Post-training sessions or pre-match briefings often ended with a discreet handover: a fresh packet of McVitie’s custard creams, crisp and golden, to fuel the manager’s legendary touchline intensity. “Jose would light up like a kid at Christmas,” Pullman later recounted in a club farewell interview. It was a small ritual, but in the high-stakes world of Premier League pressure, such gestures were lifelines. Those biscuits sweetened three Premier League titles, a Champions League final appearance, and Mourinho’s iconic “Special One” press conference that set the tone for an era of dominance. When he returned for a second stint in 2013, the tradition resumed without a word – Pullman’s way of saying, “Welcome back, boss.”

The Benfica match was Mourinho’s first return to Stamford Bridge in competitive action since November 2020, when his Tottenham side fell 2-1 to the Blues in the Carabao Cup. Back then, the reception was polite but pointed, laced with reminders of his acrimonious 2015 exit. This time, however, the air was thick with affection. As Mourinho emerged from the tunnel, the Matthew Harding Stand erupted into a cacophony of “Jose Mourinho!” chants, echoing through both halves of the game. He blew kisses to the crowd, turned to applaud the fans behind the goal – the very section where he’d once flung a winners’ medal in 2005 – and even quipped post-match about returning in 20 years with his grandchildren in tow. “I feel at home here,” he admitted, his voice softening. “But I’m not a Blue anymore… though they belong to my history, and I to theirs.” Benfica’s narrow defeat – courtesy of that early Rios deflection off a Cole Palmer corner – did little to dampen the evening’s warmth.

It was in the packed media room, amid the flash of cameras and the murmur of questions, that Pullman’s entrance stole the show. Dressed in a crisp Chelsea jacket, the 80-something retiree approached the top table with a familiar twinkle in his eye. Mourinho spotted him immediately, breaking into a grin that bridged two decades. The hug was long and genuine, the kind that speaks volumes without a word. Then came the handover: a modest packet of custard creams, wrapped with the care of old times. “For old times’ sake, boss,” Pullman reportedly whispered, his voice barely audible over the room’s hum. Mourinho’s eyes welled up – a rare vulnerability from the man who’d stared down Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola without flinching. “Brian, you legend,” he replied, clutching the biscuits like a trophy. The moment, captured by Sky Sports cameras, went viral within minutes, trending under #BrianForJose and amassing over 2 million views on X by morning.

Social media lit up with tributes, turning a private gesture into a global celebration of loyalty. On Reddit’s r/chelseafc, fans hailed Pullman as “the real Special One,” with one post garnering 1,400 upvotes: “After 56 years, he comes back just for this? That’s Chelsea through and through.” Over on r/soccer, the thread exploded to 6,400 upvotes, users sharing stories of Pullman’s kindness – from sneaking extra biscuits to overlooked reporters during late-night deadlines to his unwavering support during the club’s darker days, like the 1980s Second Division struggles. The Athletic’s feature on the night described it as “a reunion that transcended the scoreline,” noting how Pullman’s return humanized Mourinho’s legacy amid Benfica’s frustrations. Even in non-English press, like Indonesia’s Kompas, it was framed as a testament to enduring love: “Chelsea always has a place for Jose – and Brian made sure it was sweet.”

This wasn’t Pullman’s first act of post-retirement devotion, nor Mourinho’s only nod to his Chelsea roots. Brian had quietly attended a few home games since hanging up his steward’s badge, blending into the crowd like a cherished ghost. For Mourinho, the club remains a touchstone; he still drives the limited-edition Ferrari gifted by Roman Abramovich in 2005, a scarlet reminder of glory days. Their reunion underscored a broader truth about Stamford Bridge: beneath the billionaire ownership, the mega-transfers, and the tactical chess matches, Chelsea is a family – one where biscuits and hugs outlast contracts and controversies.

In the grand tapestry of Mourinho’s career – from Porto’s miracles to Inter’s treble, Real Madrid’s La Liga conquests, and now Benfica’s resurgence – this night stood apart. Defeat stung, but the welcome soothed. As he pocketed those custard creams, Mourinho reflected on Pullman’s gift: “It’s these little things that make football eternal.” For Brian, it was simpler: “Jose gave us trophies; I gave him biscuits. Fair trade.” Their story, a blend of the profound and the profoundly ordinary, reminds us why we fall for the game. In an era of fleeting loyalties, Pullman’s 56 years – capped by one more delivery – prove that some bonds, like a perfect custard cream, are worth savoring forever.

As Chelsea march on under Enzo Maresca, chasing European redemption after last season’s disappointments, nights like this linger. Pullman may have retired, but his spirit – and his recipes – endure. And Mourinho? He’ll be back, grandchildren or not, forever a Blue at heart. Who knows – perhaps next time, Brian will bake.