Guus Hiddink favourite to replace Jose Mourinho at Chelsea

Blues chiefs insisted Mourinho had left the club "by mutual consent" in a statement on Thursday afternoon, before starting work on securing a short-term replacement for the 52-year-old.

Mourinho has been relieved of his role just seven months after guiding Chelsea to the Premier League title, owing to the dismal run of nine defeats in 16 league matches this term.

Brendan Rodgers and Juande Ramos had been touted as candidates to take over at Chelsea until the end of the season, but the Blues are likely to hand Hiddink his second caretaker role at Stamford Bridge.

"Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent," the London club's statement read.

"All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013.

"His three league titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over two spells make him the most successful manager in our 110-year history.

"But both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways.

"The club wishes to make clear Jose leaves us on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea.

"His legacy at Stamford Bridge and in England has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge.

"The club's focus is now on ensuring our talented squad reaches its potential."

The Blues are thought to favour Italy manager Antonio Conte as their top choice for a long-term appointment, but his contract runs until after Euro 2016.

First-team coach Steve Holland could take charge of Saturday's home Premier League clash with Sunderland, to hand the Blues board more time to complete the search for Mourinho's short-term replacement.

Former Holland manager Hiddink took interim charge at Chelsea in 2009 after the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, and could now reprise his caretaker role in west London.

Chelsea cancelled their regular weekly press conference that was scheduled for Friday afternoon in the wake of Mourinho's departure.

The regular media call was lined up to preview Saturday's Stamford Bridge Premier League clash against Sunderland, but has now been scrapped.

Mourinho was pictured leaving Chelsea's Cobham training ground for the last time on Thursday afternoon, with a hoodie pulled down over his head. It was an ignominious exit for the 'Special One' to indicate the depth of Chelsea's troubles.

The final match of Mourinho's second spell as Chelsea boss ultimately proved Monday's 2-1 Premier League loss at surprise table-toppers Leicester City.

Mourinho accepted in the wake of that defeat in the east midlands that Chelsea could not now challenge for a top-four finish to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

The Blues sit just a point above the relegation zone after an incredibly poor run of league form that has led to accusations of player unrest and amid the continued fallout of club medic Dr Eva Carneiro's acrimonious exit.

Carneiro continues to pursue an unfair dismissal claim against the club, after Mourinho branded his medical staff "naive" to rush on to the field to treat Eden Hazard in the 2-2 draw with Swansea on August 8.

Carneiro's role was downgraded, leading to her leaving the club on September 22 and now seeking legal recourse.

Mourinho had said after Monday night's defeat at Leicester that he had been "betrayed" by some of his players.

Mourinho said: "It is a big frustration to accept the goals because my work was betrayed, if that is the right word.

"I worked four days on this match. I prepared everything related to the opponent. I identified four movements where they scored almost all their goals.

"My players got all that information, you can ask them, they are honest guys who will tell you it is true. But in the situations I identify, we concede the first and second goal. The mistakes were there."

There had been reports of discontent within the Chelsea dressing room all season, though a number of senior professionals had gone on record to state that was never the case.