Chelsea FC sack Jose Mourinho after Premier League slump; Guus Hiddink to be interim coach

Mourinho returned to Chelsea in 2013 and won league last season.

New Delhi: English Premier League (EPL) title holders Chelsea on Thursday decided to part ways with coach Jose Mourinho after the team sunk to 16th place in the points table.

Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent. https://t.co/YYJaxxdE36

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 17, 2015

The defending champions suffered their ninth defeat in 16 games this season, as the Blues were beaten by leaders Leicester City 1-2 at King Power Stadium on Monday.

This is the worst performance ever by any defending champions in the Premier League ever.

Interestingly, after the loss at Leicester, a confident Mourinho stated: “I think you know me well enough, three years this time, plus three years another time, that I am not afraid of a big challenge, and in this moment this is a real big challenge. I want to stay, I hope Mr Abramovich and the board want me to stay.”

According to British media, former Dutch manager Guus Hiddink will be appointed as the interim manager for Chelsea F.C..

Mourinho returned to club in 2013 and won league last season, after spells in Spain with Real Madrid and in Italy with Inter Milan.

The 52-year-old is considered to be one of the best managers of modern era having won league titles in four countries, besides Champions League titles with FC Porto and Inter.