Ranieri exits Chelsea

Claudio Ranieri. Chelsea have sacked manager Claudio Ranieri, the English Premiership side announced.

Chelsea have sacked manager Claudio Ranieri, the English Premiership side announced.

The worst kept secret in English football was finally confirmed despite the Italian steering Chelsea to second place in the English Premiership and the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.

Ranieri, 51, who eventually endeared himself to the Chelsea fans, was brought in by former owner Ken Bates.

His position had been the subject of intense speculation in the British press ever since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich took control of the London club before the start of last season.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, brought in from Manchester United, added to the pressure created by multi-million pound spending on a host of new players by saying the season would be a "failure" if the team failed to win a trophy.

Jose Mourinho, who guided FC Porto to Champions League glory last season, is expected in London this week to sign a deal to take over from Ranieri as coach at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho is reported to have been offered a 16-million-pound, four-year deal.