Chelsea mercilessly sack Carlo Ancelotti after trophy less season, on the look-out for a replacement
Carlo Ancelotti was sacked last night, minutes after the 1-0 loss to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Everton-c39043 at Goodison Park in the last fixture of the highly disappointing season.
Chelsea finished the season at second place on the English Premier League table, nine points behind Premier League winners Manchester United.
A second place finish and a UEFA Champions League qualification was not good enough for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and the Italian manager was sacked last night.
A statement released by Chelsea Football Club last night said:
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Carlo Ancelotti parted company with the club today [Sunday].
The owner and board would like to thank Carlo for his contribution and achievements since taking over as manager in July 2009, which included winning the double for the first time in the club's history.
However, this season's performances have fallen short of expectations and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of next season's preparations.
Carlo will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge, where he will be given the reception and respect his position in our history deserves.
Chelsea's long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager.
There will be no further comment until that appointment is made.”
The Russian billionaire did not seem to regard the fact that Ancelotti was the first foreign manager to lead a Premier League side to the domestic double in his first season at the club.
Ancelotti arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2009 and ended the season with the Premier League crown and the FA Cup.
His first season also saw him get the best out of most of his players, with the squad making and breaking various records as they secured their first ever double.
Ivory Coast striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Frank-Lampard-c14097 went on to score 27 goals, a record high for the midfielder.
Even though the Italian manager did fall short this season, being unable to win any silverware, he showed great effort and fight to earn the London side a second place finish.
However, the late title challenge was not sufficient to earn the Italian another year at Chelsea and he was sacked a year before his contract was set to expire.
Having won four European Cups, two as a player and two as a manager, Ancelotti had a realistic chance of leading Chelsea to the coveted UEFA Champions League.
The one trophy the London side has not been able to win so far has become an obsession with the Blues owner.
Any manager who has failed to deliver the European Cup in the past has been sacked, sooner or later, depending on the domestic success or lack of it.
Ancelotti winning the double in his first season did earn him another year at Stamford Bridge, which he could unfortunately not extend.
He is now left http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603 interested in bringing him over.
The Italian manager himself has insisted he wishes to remain in England and manage an English Premier League side though.
The Blues are currently on the look-out for a replacement and have been linked to many top managers.
Former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 manager’s Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink have been linked with a return, with both parties hinting at a possible comeback.
Apparently Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-c10409 Moyes have also been amongst the names being considered for the job.
It remains to be seen what the new season will bring for Chelsea and the former Blues boss Ancelotti, who has been one of the greatest managers the London side has had the privilege of having in charge.
Given more time, there is no doubt that Ancelotti would have delivered the Champions League trophy to Stamford Bridge. The same cannot be said about whoever is named to replace the Italian boss.
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