Andre Villas-Boas has been sacked by Chelsea after less than a season in charge at Stamford Bridge, the Premier League club announced in a statement on their website on Sunday.
Former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo, who had been working as Villas-Boas’s assistant, has been appointed interim manager until the end of the season.
Villas-Boas, who arrived from Porto in June 2011, paid the price for a dismal run of results that left Chelsea in fifth place and on the verge of elimination from this season’s Champions League after a 3-1 defeat at Napoli in the last 16 first leg.
The 34-year-old also had strained relationships with several of Chelsea’s senior stars, including England midfielder Frank Lampard.
A woeful run of results — including just one win in their past seven matches and only three from their past 12 in the league — forced owner Roman Abramovich to act.
The final straw came on Saturday as the Blues suffered a lacklustre 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion thanks to a late winner from Garth McAuley.
“Andre Villa-Boas has parted company with Chelsea Football Club today,” the Chelsea statement read.
“The board would like to record our gratitude for his work and express our disappointment that the relationship has ended so early.
“Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season.
“The club is still competing in the latter stages of the Champions League and the FA Cup, as well as challenging for a top-four spot in the Premier League, and we aim to remain as competitive as possible on all fronts.
“With that in mind we felt our only option was to make a change at this time.
“With immediate effect Roberto Di Matteo has been appointed first team coach on an interim basis until the end of the season.”
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Hey pete I hear he's looking for a share house with Rafa Benitez? 2 Bedroom apartment just out of London! Whoever gets the gig, dump the 4-3-3... It plain and simply just doesn’t work.. AVB tried his very best to work the team around the formation (hmm sound familiar? Verbeek cough cough) and Chelsea certainly lack the goal scoring output to play 3 up front at the moment and they don't have a Joao Moutinho type player at the helm to call the shots... He's destined to land himself a big contract out of Porto surely? But that is another issue for another day. Drogba is gone (soon enough), so whoever takes the reins needs to start thinking "future". Does that mean a Torressless Chelsea? Well you look at 3 goals in over 35 appearances and try and hold a straight face.. Chelsea needs to be reworked... They need to tap into their rich commodities; their youngsters, their big names and all and all they need to reinvigorate that fear connected with Stamford Bridge. They have the tools, but who has the guts to use them?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Seems that Champions League spot is the tipping point for Abramovich. Often a point of debate but how much is this a case of players under performing vs coach abilities here? I personally rate Villas-Boas as a coach, so will be interested to see where he goes from here and how successful he will become? Perhaps Villas-Boas will take over Redknapp at Spurs when Harry slots in as England manager after EPL season. Mourinho to Chelsea? Stranger things have happened but would have to be good odds since Mourinho is making noises again about moving. Will he work with what he's got when back at Chelsea or get out the broom labelled 'The Special One'?
pete4
Guest
It appears it was no coincidence Jose Mourinho was looking for a house in London last week