| for the love of many; 5:19 PM
Mourinho leaves Chelsea after crisis meetingChelsea have confirmed that manager Jose Mourinho has left the Stamford Bridge club by 'mutual consent' after three trophy-laden years at the helm.
He is understood to have contacted five senior players yesterday afternoon to inform them of his departure and by midnight the entire first team squad had learned he was going.
Peter Kenyon, the club's chief executive, Bruce Buck, the chairman, and Abramovich's key aide, Eugene Tenenbaum, were called to an emergency meeting at Stamford Bridge last night to discuss the emerging crisis.
The club eventually confirmed Mourinho's departure in the early hours of this morning when they posted a statement on the club's official website.
The statement read: 'Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent.'
Many of Chelsea's staff and players had been enjoying a relaxing evening at a Fulham Broadway cinema last night as they watched a screening of `Blue Revolution'` - a new documentary about the Abramovich years.
But senior players like captain John Terry and England midfielder Frank Lampard were absent and the remainder, except a reluctant England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, refused to talk to the media.
Mourinho also attended the evening but ignored the waiting media and looked decidedly glum.
Former Chelsea player Didier Deschamps has emerged as one of the frontrunners to replace Jose Mourinho as manager at Stamford Bridge.
Deschamps, who captained France to glory in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, is now one of the names in the frame to replace Mourinho.
Deschamps began his coaching career with Monaco before joining Juventus. But he resigned from the Italian club in May 2007 and is currently unemployed.
He spent a year with Chelsea as a player in 1999-2000 - winning the FA Cup.
It is understood the impasse between Mourinho and Abramovich came to a head after their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month.
Mourinho has been at loggerheads with the Russian since their disagreement over the lack of funds to sign players during last January's transfer window.
Mourinho's reluctance to play Andriy Shevchenko and the Russian's desire to bring in Avram Grant from Portsmouth to work with the misfiring striker only served to heighten the tension.
The former Israel coach was recruited in the summer as director of football and Mourinho is understood to have simmered ever since.
Now Grant is expected to be in charge for Sunday's clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Mourinho's departure will be followed by his backroom staff although assistant Steve Clarke is expected to remain on the payroll for now.
The Portuguese - whose £5.2 million a year contract was due to expire in 2010 - has been dismayed by the constant watering down of his authority.
Abramovich's decision to recruit Dane Frank Arnesen from Tottenham as director of scouting and youth development in September 2005 was compounded further by the arrival of Grant.
But their dismal start to the new Barclays Premier League campaign and their 1-1 draw with Rosenborg in the Champions League on Tuesday only served to heighten the problems and Mourinho decided he had reached the end of the road.
He had won every domestic honour since his arrival in England in the summer of 2004 but the Champions League eluded him.
Although he won the trophy with Porto in 2003, Chelsea were twice knocked out of the competition at the semi-final stage by Liverpool during his tenure.
rumoured to get the job
Chelsea to give job to Roman's mate Grant?LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Chelsea's director of football Avram Grant is to take over as coach following the shock departure of Jose Mourinho, according to reports.
The club would not immediately officially confirm the appointment but Chelsea sources said it would not be a surprise if Grant, who is close to billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, took on the role.
Chelsea announced early on Thursday they and Mourinho, who won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup in his three years in charge, had parted company by mutual consent.
Grant, an Israeli and former coach of his country's national side, was appointed director of football in the close season and had been shadowing Mourinho. He sat behind the Portuguese in the dug-out at matches and attended training sessions.
Mourinho had opposed his appointment during a long standoff with Abramovich last season but appeared to have accepted his arrival at the start of the season.
Grant, who up until now has held a place on the Chelsea board, arrived at Stamford Bridge after a spell as technical director at Portsmouth.
Previously he guided Israel to the brink of World Cup qualification in 2006 and he has also coached Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa.
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there you have it
the lastest in football news shocked everyone
jose mourinho has left chelsea
in my opinion
i feel that mourinho is an awesome coach
i wish he would coach Man Utd someday
this sunday is the crunch match
Man Utd VS Chelsea
so morale is low in chelsea dressing room
whats next then?
terry to go?
Lampard moving on?
both have been key players for the team
now that their fav manager has left
both to go too?
the morning dew drops
Labels: as i watch the sky turn grey
