Mourinho has sensationally left the club
Director of football Avram Grant and assistant manager Steve Clarke will take charge of the Chelsea first-team after Jose Mourinho's three-year reign sensationally came to an end.
Mourinho, who ended the Blues' 50-year title drought in his first season in 2005, had attended a screening of Blue Revolution, a new documentary about the Roman Abramovich years, just hours before the news broke.
The 44-year-old, who is being strongly linked with a role with the Portuguese national side, was at the club's training headquarters in Cobham, Surrey early this morning to bid farewell to his players and staff ahead of Sunday's trip to champions Manchester United.
Chelsea said of former Israeli national coach Grant, who is a close friend of Roman Abramovich, and Clarke: "The club is delighted that in Avram we have an experienced man who can come in immediately at this difficult time to help deliver our objectives.
"In Steve we have a Chelsea man and he will be a crucial part of the management team going forward."
The likes of former Blues captain Didier Deschamps, who is out of work having quit as Juventus boss at the end of May, and Russia national coach Guus Hiddink have been linked with the west Londoners.
But it remains to be seen whether Abramovich and the rest of the Blues hierachy will look to make a further appointment in the long-term.
The Chelsea board are thought to have become increasingly unhappy over the team's form at the start of the season.
The west Londoners have won just one of their last four matches in all competitions having relinquished their title to Manchester United in May.
Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon, chairman Bruce Buck and Abramovich's key aide Eugene Tenenbaum, were called to an emergency meeting at Stamford Bridge to discuss the emerging crisis after the disappointing 1-1 Champions League Group B draw at home to Rosenborg.
Mourinho, who reportedly texted five players to tell them he was leaving the club, is thought to have been angered by Grant's arrival earlier this year.
There has also been much speculation over growing tensions in Mourinho's relationship with Abramovich.
And it is believed the situation came to a head when Chelsea were beaten 2-0 at Aston Villa in the Premier League earlier this month.
And with a 0-0 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers and the game against Rosenborg which was witnesssed by less than 25,000, Abramovich's frustation at failing to see stylish, exciting football came to boiling point.
Chelsea's website said in the early hours: "Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent."
20th September 2007
