Mourinho: has left Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent.

Chelsea statement
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Chelsea have sensationally parted company with manager Jose Mourinho.

The stunning news was confirmed in the early hours of Thursday following talks with leading Stamford Bridge officials.

Mourinho was called to an emergency meeting late on Wednesday night with chief executive Peter Kenyon, chairman Bruce Buck and director Eugene Tenenbaum, Roman Abramovich's key aide.

The self-styled 'Special One' had earlier joined the Chelsea first team at a club DVD launch in Fulham and is understood to have been very emotional when he later texted senior players with the news.

Chelsea released a statement on their website at 1.45am on Thursday that read: "Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent."

The former Porto boss won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups in just over three years at the club but his relationship with billionaire owner Abramovich became strained earlier this year and his departure comes just 24 hours after the club outlined their plans to win the UEFA Champions League - something Mourinho failed to do with the Blues.

The final straw appeared to be Tuesday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Rosenburg, watched by less than 25,000 fans.

Chelsea's first game without him is against champions Manchester United at Old Trafford live on Sky Sports on Sunday.