A MONTH after saying he would stay at the club until 2019, Jose Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea yesterday with the club languishing in 16th place.

 

In what has been a remarkable downfall since winning the league at a canter last season, Monday’s loss to Leicester City — managed by former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri, was the final straw for owner Roman Abramovich.

 

Two days of intense crisis meetings ensued, with the club and manager agreeing to part ways after Mourinho returned to the club for his second stint as manager in June 2013.

 

Pep Guardiola’s impending departure from Bayern Munich comes at a welcome time for Chelsea, though he is more likely to end up in Manchester, with City and United both rumoured to be vying for his services.

 

After signing a new contract in the summer, Mourinho is said to be in line for a £40 million payoff — £10m less than the Premier League gave to grassroots football in total — this season.

 

In a statement, Chelsea thanked Mourinho for his “three league titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over two spells making him the most successful manager in our 110-year history.”

 

However “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.”

 

But ultimately, the club felt that they had no choice but to move on with Chelsea already out of the top four race. 

 

It would take an unbeaten run to the end of the season to stand any chance of qualifying for the Champions League through the Premier League.

 

The problems for the club started on the opening day of the season, when a petulant Mourinho attacked then club doctor Eva Carneiro for treating a tired Eden Hazard on the pitch.

 

Carneiro was later demoted from her role as team doctor and left the club, suing both Chelsea and Mourinho, with the court case taking place next month.

 

Today’s pre-Sunderland press conference has been cancelled, with former Blues caretaker manager Guus Hiddink set to once again take over until the end of the season.