Jose Mourinho’s tumultuous second spell as Chelsea manager was ended “by mutual consent” on Thursday, with the club’s technical director revealing that squad disharmony was a significant factor.
Chelsea’s disastrous start to the season prompted owner Roman Abramovich to press the eject button, with the club saying it was “in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways.”
Nine defeats in 16 games have seen the reigning Premier League champions slither to within a point of the relegation zone and technical director Michael Emenalo said that Chelsea had had no choice but to act.
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“Whilst there is huge sentiment for the individual who has done so much for the club, the facts of the matter remain that Chelsea Football Club is in trouble,” he told Chelsea TV. “The results are not good. There obviously seems to be a palpable discord between manager and players. We feel it was time to act.”
Chelsea said that Mourinho, 52, had left “on good terms,” two years after returning to the club following spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
He was pictured on Sky Sports News being driven out of Chelsea’s training ground in a black car, with his hood pulled down over his face.
The outspoken Portuguese is reported to have been informed of his fate in a meeting with club officials on Thursday afternoon, following two days of talks at boardroom level.
“His three league titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over two spells make him the most successful manager in our 110-year history, but both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways,” Chelsea said in a statement.
Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, 69, has been cited as the front-runner to take over on a short-term basis, having previously fulfilled the role in 2009.
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Italy coach Antonio Conte are reported to be possible long-term successors, along with longstanding target Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola and former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.
“The club is working vigorously and actively to make sure that the situation with regards to a managerial appointment is taken care of as soon as possible,” Emenalo said.
In Madrid, Real president Florentino Perez ruled out an immediate return to the Santiago Bernabeu for Mourinho, despite holding “good memories” of the Portuguese national’s spell in charge of the team.
Mourinho left Chelsea two years after returning to the Premier League from Madrid, where he won one La Liga title in three years in charge.
However, just as in his two spells at Chelsea, Mourinho courted plenty of controversy in the Spanish capital and left during a dressing room revolt lead by Madrid’s current captain Sergio Ramos, among others.
Madrid have failed to win the league since Mourinho left and currently trail leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid by five points in the title race.
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