Scolari sacked as Chelsea manager

LONDON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked by Chelsea on Monday after only seven months of coaching at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea'smanagerLuizFelipeScolarilistensduringanews
conferenceattheirtraininggroundinCobham,Surreyinsouthern
EnglandJanuary2,2009.(Xinhua/ReutersPhoto)

The Brazilian, who took the post in the summer, was axed within 48 hours after Chelsea's 0-0 home draw with Hull City left their Premier League title hopes in serious jeopardy.

The news came as a surprise to many although a poor run of performance has made Chelsea fans impatient with the 60-year-old, who led Brazil to the world cup glory in 2002.

"Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club today with immediate effect," said a statement on the club's website (www.chelseafc.com).

"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."

Chelsea have started searching for a new manager and assistant coach Ray Wilkins will "take charge of the team on a temporary basis".

Scolari's agent Acaz Fellegger revealed that it was the club owner Roman Abramovich's decision to get rid of the Brazilian.

"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."