Chelsea sack Ancelotti as manager
May 23rd, 2011 - 1:43 pm ICT by IANSLondon, May 23 (IANS) English premiership club Chelsea have sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti and are likely to appoint Turkey coach Guss Hiddink as his replacement.
Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay conveyed the decision to the 51-year-old, who took over in 2009.
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Carlo Ancelotti parted company with the club. 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,” the club said in a statement.
The London club, however, didn’t do well this season and the 0-1 loss to Everton Sunday night prompted the board to take a quick decision. The loss saw Chelsea finish second in the league.
“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.
“Chelsea’s long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager,” the statement from the club added.
Ancelotti thanked the Chelsea fans at Goodison Park following his last match in charge as manager.
“I was happy for this reason. We have a very good relationship, they support us, they support me all the time. For this reason I am really happy,” said Ancelotti in a statement.
“We would like to finish the season differently but unfortunately we needed a strong motivation. It was difficult to find the right motivation. Obviously we wanted to play differently, to finish the season differently but this is normal at the end of the season when you have worked really hard but lost the fight for the title with Manchester United. To maintain motivation is not easy,” he said.
“We cannot say we are happy to reach second place, Chelsea has to fight for the title all the time. Sometimes there are problems and you are not able to win, this was this year for us,” Ancelotti added.
Ancelotti’s trusted assistant, Bruno Demichelis, is also expected to leave the club.
Club Roman Abramovich is now set to hire his seventh manager in seven seasons.
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- Hiddink rules out return to Stamford Bridge, suggests two Blues coaches - Apr 17, 2011
- Ancelotti admits he may leave Chelsea this year - Mar 21, 2011
- Ancelotti to face Abramovich inquest even if Chelsea wins double - May 05, 2010
- Ancelotti refuses to speak about his Blues future - Apr 21, 2011
- Ancelotti backs Chelsea to win Treble next year - May 16, 2010
- I don't fear for my Chelsea job, says Ancelotti - Dec 11, 2010
- Ancelotti says he's 'safe' but under pressure as Chelsea manager - Nov 27, 2010
- Lucky to still be in Chelsea job: Ancelotti - Jan 05, 2011
- Guus Hiddink rules out dramatic Chelsea comeback - Apr 15, 2011
- Ancelotti banking on transfer window to save Chelsea job - Jan 03, 2011
- Ancelotti wants to extend his stay at Chelsea - Apr 06, 2011
- Ancelotti to get money required to keep Chelsea in title race - Jan 04, 2011
- Ancelotti admits of being under pressure following Chelsea's FA Cup exit - Feb 20, 2011
Tags: ambitions, carlo ancelotti, chelsea fans, chief executive, coach, english premiership, football club, good relationship, gourlay, guss hiddink, last match, london club, manchester united, motivation, premiership club, stamford bridge, turkey