Sports News – General Sport & Sport Extra

Chelsea have sensationally sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. According to the club’s website “Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club today (Monday) with immediate effect. The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager. Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon. Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season. In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now. The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to have someone in place as soon as possible. While that continues Assistant Coach Ray Wilkins will take charge of the team on a temporary basis.”

Scolari’s spokesman Acaz Felleger said it was Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who had run out of patience with the Brazilian coach. “It seems that Abramovich made the decision,” Felleger told Lance newspaper’s website. “Scolari was not in a comfortable situation despite having the support of the squad and Peter Kenyon.” Felleger added that Scolari had paid the price for not being given the backing to refresh the aging Chelsea squad. “The Chelsea squad are old. Felipe tried to rejuvenate it, but unsuccessfully. He asked (the board) to sign Deco and Robinho, but they only brought Deco.” Scolari indicated he would give his version of events in the near future. “I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked for Chelsea and in English football,” Scolari said. “It was a very valuable experience. I am sorry that my time with everyone could not last longer. I wish Chelsea luck in the three competitions they are participating in. “I want to take the opportunity to inform that I will keep living in London. I will respond to the media soon.” Scolari’s former team travel to Watford in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday. The tie at Vicarage Road is the start of a vital 11 days for Chelsea, with a crucial Premier League clash with third-placed Aston Villa on 21 February, followed by the visit of Juventus to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League four days later.

Scolari won the World Cup as manager of his home country, Brazil, in 2002. He arrived at Chelsea following a six-year spell in charge of Portugal, who he led to the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup. The 60-year-old made an impressive start but results deteriorated and of his 36 games in charge, 20 were won, five lost and 11 drawn. Chelsea, who were unbeaten in the league at home for 86 matches until Liverpool’s 1-0 win in October 2008, have lost two home league matches and drawn on five occasions this season, and were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Burnley on penalties.

Several names have already joined Zola and Di Matteo in being linked with the vacancy, including Russia boss Guus Hiddink and former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkard.

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