Thats Your Lotti Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked

Only 2 hours after the final whistle in Goodison Park, the scene of Chelsea’s last day Premier League defeat to Everton, Chelsea have sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti after only 12 months in charge at the club, despite last season winning the club a double for the first time in their history.

The London club finished second to Manchester United this season and only reached the quarter finals of the Champions League, before being dumped out by this seasons Premier League champions.

A statement released via the clubs website said;

“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.”

“Chelsea’s long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager, There will be no further comment until that appointment is made”

Ancelotti was taken on in 2009 from AC Milan, partly because of his reputation as a Champions League specialist, but his attempts to win the trophy that Roman Abramovich so desperately craves, saw the club go backwards as they twice suffered exits earlier than expected.

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The decision to allow five senior players to leave last summer and focus more on youngsters appeared to backfire when injuries struck the spine of the team. That coincided with the shock sacking of assistant manager Ray Wilkins, which was immediately followed by the club’s worst run in the league for almost 15 years.

The January arrival of Fernando Torres also arguably had a destabilising effect at a time when Chelsea looked to be getting their season back on track. Ancelotti will at least leave having pocketed the final year of his reported £5million-per-season salary and is unlikely to be out of work for long, with former club Roma currently seeking a new manager.

He has expressed a desire to stay in England but, despite diplomatic responses to any interest he might have in taking over a team outside the top six, that seems a non-starter. Chelsea, meanwhile, will start next season with their seventh manager in just eight years since Abramovich’s takeover.

Guus Hiddink is reportedly the Russian’s No.1 target, with Porto sensation Andre Villas-Boas also heavily touted. But securing either of those will not be easy, opening the door for a raft of other candidates.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.