Not since John Toshack promised pigs would fly over the Santiago Bernabeu stadium before he would apologise to the Real Madrid Club president of the time, Lorenzo Sanz, in 1999 has the club seen a manager elect to desert ship so openly.
At least until Jose Mourinho did so this weekend when he clarified comments that come what may, he would no longer be part of Real Madrid come the end of this season.
It came in a week that has been rife with rumour and counter rumour that the current President, Florentino Perez would only accept Mourinho to stay if the La Liga trophy and the UEFA Champions League Cup were resting in the club's trophy room in the hallowed vaults of the Bernabeu.
As a consummate expert in mind games, across four football leagues in Europe, The Special One announced on Sunday that it was his decision to leave at the end of the year, with every focus in the meantime on maintaining the unbeaten record in the Champions League and defending the current lead over arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga.
And by the stroke of a pen he left headline writers to compose their own stories over the coming months and removed the ongoing speculation as to whether he would stay or go in June.
Indeed, a 3-1 win over Zaragoza on Saturday and Guardiola's draw away to Villareal extended Real's lead over Barcelona heading into the second half of the season, and worked in his favour.
Timely too, as it came after a turbulent two weeks for Mourinho which saw stories in the press about training session bust ups with Sergio Ramos and club captain, Iker Casillas.. On the filed Mourinho had to face a two legged quarter-final tie in the Copa del Rey with Barcelona - which saw Madrid knocked out. The added fact that the club suffered a home defeat in the first le,
failed to please even the most neutral of supporters.
failed to please even the most neutral of supporters.
As a result Mourinho let it be known that he will return to the Premier League next season after a four-year hiatus away from the English game.
Although Real are seven points clear at the top of the Primera Division, his position sees him never too far from controversy since his move from Inter Milan in May 2010, and so his number are undoubtedly numbered at a club that has seen ten managers in as many years.
So far the 49 year-old Portuguese manager has not managed to break Barcelona's dominance and has attracted negative headlines for a number of unsavoury episodes during those encounters. Last weekend he was booed and whistled by some Real fans responding to others chanting his name although he professed to be unconcerned.
Last month Real president Florentino Perez insisted the Portuguese was the man to usurp Barca, saying: "Signing Jose Mourinho has been my best decision as president of Real Madrid."
Over Christmas Mourinho reiterated his desire to return to England "in a couple of years" - although he later. Although clarified his comments, explaining he had not literally meant two years, but a few.
He also insisted he wanted to see the fruit of his labour at the Bernabeu, saying: "I don't see the moment when I'm going to leave nor do I want to leave."
Mourinho spent a little over three years at Chelsea from June 2004, twice winning the league and league cup as well as the FA Cup before his sudden exit in September 2007.
For the moment it seems that peace may break out at Real Madrid and they can concentrate on winning the two trophies that have eluded theme in recent years.
In the meantime speculation will now switch to the Premier League and which club will secure those special services.
