Carlo Ancelotti leaves Chelsea after defeat by Everton
Page last updated at 19:03 GMT, Sunday, 22 May 2011 20:03 UK
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Ancelotti awaits news on future
Chelsea have sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The announcement was made two hours after Chelsea's final-day 1-0 defeat by Everton, confirming the club's second-place finish in the Premier League.
The 51-year-old had one more year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
A club statement read: "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."
Speculation had been mounting that Ancelotti would be sacked following Chelsea's first season without a trophy in three years.
The west London club missed out on the Premier League title as Manchester United clinched their 19th title last week, further compounded by early exits in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup during the season.
Former manager Avram Grant suffered similar treatment when Chelsea finished second in the domestic table and the Champions League final in 2008.
And ambitious owner Roman Abramovich, who bank-rolled an audacious £50m move for striker Fernando Torres during the January transfer window, will scour home and abroad in search of a successor capable of recapturing the Premier League from Manchester United, as well as the much-coveted Champions League trophy.
"Chelsea's long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager," read the club statement.
More to follow.
Page last updated at 19:03 GMT, Sunday, 22 May 2011 20:03 UK
E-mail this to a friendPrintable version
Click to play
Ancelotti awaits news on future
Chelsea have sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The announcement was made two hours after Chelsea's final-day 1-0 defeat by Everton, confirming the club's second-place finish in the Premier League.
The 51-year-old had one more year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
A club statement read: "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."
Speculation had been mounting that Ancelotti would be sacked following Chelsea's first season without a trophy in three years.
The west London club missed out on the Premier League title as Manchester United clinched their 19th title last week, further compounded by early exits in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup during the season.
Former manager Avram Grant suffered similar treatment when Chelsea finished second in the domestic table and the Champions League final in 2008.
And ambitious owner Roman Abramovich, who bank-rolled an audacious £50m move for striker Fernando Torres during the January transfer window, will scour home and abroad in search of a successor capable of recapturing the Premier League from Manchester United, as well as the much-coveted Champions League trophy.
"Chelsea's long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager," read the club statement.
More to follow.
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