Chelsea has sacked manager Thomas Tuchel on the new owners’ 100th day in charge after their third defeat of the season.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Paris St-Germain boss exits after winning three trophies in 20 months.
Owner Todd Boehly has placed Tuchel’s coaching staff in temporary charge until a replacement is found.
A club statement said the owners believed it was “the right time” to bring in a new head coach.
BBC Sport understands the decision would have been taken regardless of the 1-0 defeat in Chelsea’s Champions League opener at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.
It is also understood that Chelsea will make a swift appointment and among the bookmakers’ favourites to take over are Brighton manager Graham Potter, former Spurs and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane and current Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers.
Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League after three wins, one draw and two defeats.
Their new ownership oversaw a £255.3m spending spree in the summer window, thought to be a British record, bringing in eight new players.
But despite the outlay, the club’s form had been patchy and Tuchel has been critical of his players on occasion, as well as being fined twice for his behaviour already this season.
It is believed that Tuchel – who led Chelsea to the Champions League title in his first season – had lost the confidence of the squad and the board in recent times, and had become less communicative with both groups.
“As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the Club, and as it continues its hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe it is the right time to make this transition,” a club statement said.
“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the club. Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.”
BBC Sport also understands that Chelsea will now look for a long-term manager who shares their vision for a collaborative culture and focus on development of all players in the squad.
New signings were down to collaboration of the board and Tuchel and it is said he became less involved as time went on.
Tuchel was appointed on 26 January, 2021, replacing Frank Lampard, and guided the club to their second Champions League title just four months later.
He went on to add the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup later that year.
Tuchel’s record-breaking start to Chelsea reign
Chelsea had fallen from being top of the Premier League at the start of December 2020 to eighth before Lampard’s departure in January 2021 – out of the title race and in danger of missing out on a Champions League spot.
Tuchel drew his first match in charge, at home to Wolves, but won his next four, eventually going unbeaten in his first 13 league games – a record for a new Chelsea manager.
He secured a fourth-place finish that term, pipping Leicester to the final Champions League place on the final day despite defeat by Aston Villa.
Chelsea went on to beat Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final in Porto as Tuchel repeated the feat of Roberto di Matteo, who led Chelsea to the 2012 Champions League title after taking charge midway through the season.
-BBC
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