SOCCER:CARLO ANCELOTTI was last night sacked as Chelsea's manager, with the club saying the team's performances have "fallen short of expectations" this season.
The Italian was informed of his dismissal by the club’s chief executive, Ron Gourlay, in a corridor at Goodison Park shortly after Chelsea ended their season with a 1-0 defeat by Everton.
Chelsea wanted to tell him before the players went on their summer break and Ancelotti is understood to have travelled back to London with the team.
His removal had been anticipated after Chelsea ended the season without a trophy. They finished second in the Premier League, nine points behind the champions, Manchester United, and crucially were also second best to Alex Ferguson’s team in the Champions League, going out to them in the quarter-finals.
Ancelotti’s failure in those two competitions, allied to an FA Cup fourth-round exit at home to Everton and an early League Cup defeat by Newcastle, have convinced Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich, that change is necessary. The sacking comes a year after Ancelotti led the club to the first Double in their history in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti is due €6.9 million compensation for the year remaining on his contract and has expressed a desire to stay in England. He had expected to meet members of the Chelsea hierarchy this week – where he said he would not “beg” to keep his job – before a decision was made. But Chelsea’s decision was swift.
In a statement they said: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Carlo Ancelotti parted company with the club today. 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.”
Ancelotti’s inability to win a trophy this season came after a decisive mid-season slump and despite the signings of Fernando Torres and David Luiz for a combined €86 million in January.
Chelsea shortlist to replace him includes Guus Hiddink, the Turkey coach, Porto’s Andre Villas Boas, who has a get-out clause of about €15 million in his contract, and the former Holland and Ajax coach Marco van Basten.
