Jose Mourinho sacked by Chelsea

The Portuguese has endured a torrid season and leaves the team in 16th place after losing 2-1 to Leicester on Monday.

The club hierarchy met on Tuesday to discuss the future of the 52-year-old and have now taken action.

"Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent. All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013," read a statement on the club's website.

"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.

"The club wishes to make clear Jose leaves us on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea. His legacy at Stamford Bridge and in England has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge.

"The club's focus is now on ensuring our talented squad reaches its potential.

"There will be no further comment until a new appointment is made."

Mourinho was in his second stint at the club after taking charge in June 2013. He had led them to the Premier League title last season but had struggled consistently to put a run of form together and the team sits just a point above the relegation zone and 20 points away from the Champions League places.

[STORY: Paper Round: Chelsea will pay 'any price' for Guardiola]

Pep Guardiola, Guus Hiddink, Brendan Rodgers and Juande Ramos are all in the frame to take over at Stamford Bridge.

The fact that the club took until Thursday to announce Mourinho’s sacking suggests that the decision was not as clear cut as Chelsea’s lowly league position should have made it. However, the lethargy making the move is more likely down to a lack of viable alternatives rather than any sense of sentimentality or a belief that Chelsea’s form was some kind of blip.

The very fact that reports emerged yesterday that the club were considering appointing Juande Ramos on an interim basis paints a picture of a club that is totally lacking direction. It would appear that it is not just the playing side that is in disarray.

The short-termism that has been bred at the club since Roman Abramovich arrived in 2003 means that they have gone through most elite-level managers and the one the club craves most – Pep Guardiola – appears averse to the project. While Diego Simeone's philosophy would broadly suit the squad Chelsea, it appears that either Chelsea or the Argentine himself are not interested in the move such has the lack of

Guus Hiddink is favourite for the job but at 69 will most likely be an interim appointment. The most feasible solution as it stands is the re-appointment of Carlo Ancelotti which begs the question, why sack him in the first place?