Jose Mourinho, the most successful manager in the history of Chelsea Football Club, has been sacked today only three days after suffering their ninth league defeat of the season - the worst start ever for a defending Premier League champion.
A rotten run meant change was necessary
Mourinho only took charge of 16 games in the Premier League this season and leaves the club in 16th place after losing 1-0 to newly-promoted Bournemouth last weekend and 2-1 to table-topping Leicester City on Monday night. Many have expected that he would have been sacked even earlier following a bad run in the league and elimination for the Capital One Cup. However, his progress as group winners in the UEFA Champions League meant he was sparred the axe for a while.
The Portuguese boss won three league titles while in charge at Stamford Bridge, along with a trio of League Cup triumphs. The FA Cup and Community Shield were also secured during his tenure as Blues boss across the two spells. A domestic double was secured in 2014, as the League Cup and Premier League trophy returned, but success has eluded him this term and even a win was cherished like never before.
Chelsea thank Mourinho in club statement
A club statement thanked Mourinho for his "immense contribution" since returning for a second term in 2013, but both "believe[d] it is in the best interests" of the Blues and their former boss to part company. Chelsea insisted the pair would remain on "good terms" and that Mourinho would still be a "much-loved, respected and significant figure".
Chelsea are now on the hunt for a new manager yet again, with Guus Hiddink emerging as the early bookmakers favourite to take over. Whether that is on a permanent basis is not yet clear, although the Dutchman won the FA Cup and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League while in temporary charge last time. Other names being mentioned include Juande Ramos, Pep Guardiola and even Brendan Rodgers.