Just over two years after returning to the club where he really made his entrance as a force on the world scene- Jose Mourinho has once again been unceremoniously been ushered off the bench by owner Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea have been atrocious this season, losing nine games before Christmas and lying just above the relegation spot- just four months into their title defence. The team never seems to have recovered since the early season dismissal of club doctor Eva Caneiro signalled the deep cracks building in the team.

Chelsea have looked a pale shadow of their imperious selves of last season, playing pedantically and losing games willy nilly. Jose Mourinho is one of the hardest managers to defeat in world football, but you would never have known that watching his team play this season.

Chelsea lost 2-1 to Leicester City on Monday, and it has turned out to be the Portuguese’s last game in charge. Mourinho is the most successful manager in the history of the club, which earned him more patience than most coaches are awarded- but it seems the top brass at the club have decided he is not the right man to turn things around.

He returned to the club in June 2013, after he left in 2008 to coach the likes of Inter Milan and Real Madrid, where he added to his ever growing list of titles.

According to BBC Sport, Pep Guardiola, Guus Hiddink, Brendan Rodgers and Juande Ramos are some of the touted replacements for the Special One.