[Updated] Chelsea Fires Mourinho; appoints Hiddink on short-term

*Guus Hiddink appointed manager on a short-term basis

Chelsea Football Club manager, Jose Mourinho has been fired by the club.

This is coming less than a season after leading the club to the Premier League title.

Mourinho who before now was the coach of English football club Chelsea earlier boasted that he can’t be sacked because Chelsea will never have a coach that is better than him.

Jose Mourinho was sacked as Chelsea manager on Thursday afternoon after a dreadful run of results which has left his side stranded in 16th place in the Premier League table. 

Chelsea will now look to Guus Hiddink, as reported by Telegraph Sport on Wednesday, to replace the manager on a short-term basis.

The next permanent Chelsea manager will likely be appointed next summer, with candidates including Diego Simeone, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti all in the frame. 

Mourinho’s second reign in London was initially successful, with his Chelsea side winning the league last year, and the Portuguese further enhancing his reputation as Chelsea’s best ever manager.

But this season has been coloured by controversy, including the dismissal of club doctor Eva Carneiro, severe down-turns in form from key players including Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic, and a series of surprising defeats to teams including Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Southampton. 

The final straw was a 2-1 defeat to league-leading Leicester City on Monday night, in which Eden Hazard was accused of exaggerating a hip injury. 

Mourinho’s future remains unclear, but one bookmaker makes a return to Real Madrid favourite for his next move, ahead of replacing Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea statement reads that “results have not been good enough this season and we believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways.”

The Telegraph also reported that The Dutch coach Guus Hiddink will take over from Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in his second spell as caretaker manager of the club until the end of the season.

Hiddink, 69, has been given the temporary job by the Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his technical director Michael Emenalo after Mourinho was told his time was up this afternoon.

He will meet the Chelsea players tomorrow morning and take training ahead of Saturday’s game against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, the Telegraph further said.

Below: a caricature of Mourinho:

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