Under fire Chelsea boss has finally been sacked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich
The decision follows Saturday’s dismal 1-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion, which has left Chelsea three points adrift of Arsenal in the battle for the fourth Champions League place.
Roberto Di Matteo, the former Chelsea player and the club’s current assistant manager, has agreed to take charge until the end of the season.
Chelsea will then assess all of their options this summer, with Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Rafael Benitez and Fabio Capello all likely to be in contention.
Mourinho, Chelsea’s most successful-ever manager, has consistently indicated that he would like to return to the Premier League.
Significantly, he does now enjoy an improved relationship with the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich, and, despite currently topping La Liga with Real Madrid, is understood to favour a move back to England this year.
It is understood that Benitez was approached to potentially replace Villas-Boas until the end of the season, but wanted a longer contract.
Villas-Boas was appointed on a three-year contract last summer and charged with overseeing a process of change, both in the team’s personnel and playing style.
Poor results, though, have ended that project, with Chelsea having won just once in their past seven matches.
Villas-Boas’ departure was confirmed in a club statement that was posted on the Chelsea website at 1.30pm this afternoon.
"Andre Villa-Boas has parted company with Chelsea Football Club today," said the statement. "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 Uefa 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."
Villas-Boas was appointed on a three-year contract last summer and charged with overseeing a process of change, both in the team’s personnel and playing style.
Poor results, though, have ended that project, with Chelsea having won just once in their past seven matches.
Villas-Boas’ departure was confirmed in a club statement that was posted on the Chelsea website at 1.30pm this afternoon.
"Andre Villa-Boas has parted company with Chelsea Football Club today," said the statement. "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 Uefa 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."
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