Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Mourinho sacked by Chelsea for a second time, Long’s goal the year’s most memorable moment, players need to back up their provincial coaches and Billy Joe Saunders profiled

Jose Mourinho covers his face as he leaves Chelsea’s Cobham training ground after he was fired by the club for a second time. Photograph: Reuters
Jose Mourinho covers his face as he leaves Chelsea’s Cobham training ground after he was fired by the club for a second time. Photograph: Reuters
Fri Dec 18 2015 - 08:29

The sacked one

Jose Mourinho's second spell as Chelsea manager is over after he was fired yesterday, with Guus Hiddink expected to return to Stamford Bridge on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The most successful manager in the club's history, Mourinho took Chelsea to the Premier League title last term, but he had failed to arrest an alarmingly bad slump which left the champions hovering one point above the relegation zone having lost nine and won just four league games this season.

And it was a run of five defeats in eight matches in the wake of an unprecedented vote of confidence for the Portugese following the October loss to Southampton which saw owner Roman Abramovich finally lost patience with the Special One, and now the Russian is looking for his ninth permanent appointment since his 2003 takeover.

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Long’s goal the most memorable moment

Can you remember where you were when Shane Long lashed the ball into the roof of Manuel Neuer's goal and sent the Aviva Stadium barmy? Probably - the goal which sank the world champions and propelled Ireland towards Euro 2016 has been voted the most memorable sporting moment of 2015 in the annual PSG Sport and Sponsorship Sentiment Index.

History favours the visitors

Munster face the daunting task of heading to play Leicester at Welford Road on Sunday knowing a win is sorely needed to keep their Champions Cup hopes alive, but as John O'Sullivan writes, history favours Anthony Foley's side on their trip to Welford Road, with all previous European encounters between the two won by the visiting side.

Liam Toland column

In his column today Liam Toland discusses his frustrations at seeing Leinster and Munster beaten by what he feels were vulnerable Toulon and Leicester teams, and suggests the players need to back up their coaches, he writes: “In understanding the plight of our provincial coaches we must understand that their role is to get the team into position; it’s up to the team to convert.”

Toulon win would be a boost for Leinster

Leinster's Champions Cup campaign may be doomed but boss Leo Cullen believes victory over Toulon on Saturday would be huge for the province, he said: "I think it would give a real sense of belief again. We're not that far away. And Toulon have been the best team in Europe for the last three years. But for large parts of that game we went toe-to-toe and we're not a million miles away."

Billy Joe Saunders

Ahead of Saturday's world middleweight title fight against Andy Lee Johnny Watterson has profiled challenger Billy Joe Saunders who, like Lee, hails from the travelling community.

What to watch out for:

Rugby

Northampton take on Racing Metro in the Champions Cup. (BT Sport Europe, 7.45pm ko)