Frank Lampard has been sacked by Chelsea on Monday following a dismal slump in form that sees them sit ninth in the Premier League table.
The players were told not to come to the training ground until Monday afternoon as Lampard becomes the 10th manager sacked during the Roman Abramovich era.
Confirmation of his sacking came just before 11.30am on Monday after the club took decisive action following a torrid run of five losses in eight league games.
Sunday’s win over Luton Town to advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup hasn’t proved enough to save the former midfielder from the chop.
The former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel is in prime position to replace Lampard with talks at an advanced stage.
It will mean another pay-off for owner Abramovich with Lampard earning £4million a year. His contract ran until 2022.
The club statement confirming the sacking read: ‘This has been a very difficult decision, and not one that the owner and the Board have taken lightly.
‘We are grateful to Frank for what he has achieved in his time as Head Coach of the Club.
‘However, recent results and performances have not met the Club’s expectations, leaving the Club mid-table without any clear path to sustained improvement.
‘There can never be a good time to part ways with a club legend such as Frank, but after lengthy deliberation and consideration it was decided a change is needed now to give the Club time to improve performances and results this season.’
Abramovich said: ‘This was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him’.
‘He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.
‘On behalf of everyone at the Club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future.
‘He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.’
A dreadful run of league form has seen the Blues lose five of their last eight Premier League matches, leaving them well out of the title picture.
The slump in form led to mounting pressure on Stamford Bridge favourite Lampard.
It came after Lampard said the win over Luton on Sunday would ‘bring a nice air of positivity’ to the club.
He said: ‘People will look very close at the moment but I need to see a bigger picture. This was an important result because it brings a nice air of positivity to the club. We want to win more points in league. That’s where we are at.
‘It’s nice for us in the short term, the scrutiny on a club like this is normal. When you’re off it slightly the only focus should only be on changing the form. We just go again.’
Talks with Tuchel, who is a free agent following his sacking at PSG in late December, are underway with the German emerging as a prime contender to replace Lampard.
RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann has admirers in the Blues boardroom, but there are concerns over whether he would leave his current employers mid-season.
That would pave the way for Tuchel to be appointed now and he could be in charge for their home game against Wolves on Wednesday night.
Chelsea have been warned off Tuchel, 47, in the past after run-ins with previous employers Borussia Dortmund and PSG but that doesn’t seem to be a factor now.
Lampard was only 18 months into his time as Chelsea manager. He steered them to a fourth placed finish last season and also to the final of the FA Cup.
But despite massive investment of £222million in new players, they have been unable to mount a challenge at the top of the table.
The current seasons started promisingly enough, with Chelsea embarking on a 14-match unbeaten run through the autumn and making serene progress through their Champions League group.
Chelsea have been warned off Tuchel, 47, in the past after run-ins with previous employers Borussia Dortmund and PSG but that doesn’t seem to be a factor now.
Lampard was only 18 months into his time as Chelsea manager. He steered them to a fourth placed finish last season and also to the final of the FA Cup.
But despite massive investment of £222million in new players, they have been unable to mount a challenge at the top of the table.
The current seasons started promisingly enough, with Chelsea embarking on a 14-match unbeaten run through the autumn and making serene progress through their Champions League group.
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