Jose Mourinho has been sacked by champions Chelsea for a second time, just seven months after winning the Premier League.
The 52-year-old has been dismissed with his team 16th in the Premier League and three points above the relegation zone following a dismal run of nine defeats in 16 games.
Sky sources reported earlier this week that Chelsea’s board had met to discuss Mourinho’s future following Monday Night Football’s defeat at Leicester – a result that has tested owner Roman Abramovich’s patience beyond his limit.
And Mourinho’s second spell as Chelsea manager is over after 30 months and 136 games, despite delivering his third and the club’s fourth Premier League title by an eight-point margin in May.
Mourinho has been under increasing pressure as their worst start to a season since 1978 began to form, with defeats to Manchester City and Crystal Palace in August, Everton in September, Southampton, West Ham and Liverpool in October, Stoke in November, and Bournemouth and Leicester this month.
Chelsea have qualified for the Champions League last-16, however, where they play Paris Saint-German, and it is understood to have eased some of the pressure on the Portuguese for a time.
But the 2-1 defeat by league-leaders Leicester at the King Power Stadium saw Mourinho accuse his players of a “betrayal”.
SKYSPORTS
