Manager Mourinho leaves Chelsea

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has sensationally left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent, the club has confirmed today.
The news comes just 24 hours after the disappointing Champions League draw against Rosenborg.
Mourinho joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 and led them to the Premiership title in each of his first two seasons.
Last season they finished runners-up to Manchester United but won both the FA Cup and Carling Cup, a trophy they had also collected in 2005.
His achievements also saw him voted as Premiership manager of the year in 2005 and 2006. He did have one unique record during his reign in never losing a home league game at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho signed a five-year contract in 2005 and quashed speculation in January that he would leave Stamford Bridge in the summer by saying he was happy to see out his deal if he received "real support" from the club.
Avram Grant, recruited in the summer as director of football at Chelsea, is expected to take charge of the side for Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United. There are strong rumours saying that he will be named as the permanent new manager of Chelsea this afternoon with Steve Clark named as his assistan
West Ham United will play Chelsea on December 1st at Stamford Bridge.

UPDATE: In a statement released by the club later on Thursday Chelsea said that Jose Mourinho left Stamford Bridge because the relationship between club and manager had broken down.
"The reason the decision has been taken is that we believed the breakdown started to impact on the performance of the team," said a Chelsea statement. "Recent results supported this view. We did not want this to continue or affect the club further."