Chelsea sacked Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday after just seven months in charge of the Premier League club.
A poor run of form, culminating in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Hull City, has left Chelsea all but out of the title race, seven points behind leaders Manchester United.
Scolari, who led Brazil to victory in the World Cup final in 2002 and led Portugal to the runners-up spot in Euro 2004, replaced Avram Grant as manager last summer.
A statement on the club’s website said: ”Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club today [Monday] with immediate effect.
”The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager.
”Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon.
”Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.”
The statement said assistant coach Ray Wilkins would take charge on a temporary basis. — Reuters