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LONDON - Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has left the English Premier League soccer powerhouse, the club confirmed today.
Mourinho told senior players that he was leaving via text messages and the club later issued a statement confirming he was leaving "by mutual consent".
"Chelsea Football Club and Jose
Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent," said a one-line statement posted on the club's website.
Mourinho's departure will send shock waves through English football.
The Portuguese manager has transformed the nation's football landscape since taking over at Stamford Bridge in June 2004, winning two Premier League titles in his first two years in charge, the FA Cup last season and the 2005 and 2007 League Cups.
But his relationship with Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich has always been fraught and it has now been confirmed that a disappointing 1-1 Champions League draw with Norwegian side Rosenberg on Tuesday was his last in charge.
Earlier a BBC report said Mourinho sent text messages to senior players, including skipper John Terry, telling them he was leaving the club.
Chelsea have never lost a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho but rumours surfaced last season that he had fallen out with Russian billionaire Abramovich.
They lost their title to Manchester United last season and have started this season with some lacklustre displays.
Their last two Premier League games ended in a defeat at Aston Villa and a 0-0 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers, leaving them fifth in the table behind leaders Arsenal.
Factbox on Jose Mourinho
Born January 26, 1963 in Setubal, Portugal.
* Following a modest playing career, accepts job in 1992 as interpreter for former England manager Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, taking over as assistant coach from 1994-1996.
* 1996 - Moves with Robson to Barcelona and helps them win the King's Cup, Super Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup.
* 2000 - Takes first job as fully-fledged coach at Benfica but falls out with club president and quits.
* 2003 - Wins UEFA Cup and domestic Cup double in first full season in charge of Portuguese club Porto.
* 2004 - Wins second successive league title and Porto become European champions with 3-0 win over Monaco in the Champions League final. Announces intention to leave after the match and is appointed coach of Chelsea on a three-year contract on June 2.
* 2005 - Leads Chelsea to their first English league title for 50 years.
* 2006 - Chelsea retain Premier League title.
* 2007 - Chelsea finish second behind Manchester United in Premier League and lose to Liverpool in Champions League semifinals. They win the FA Cup and League Cup. Mourinho repeatedly denies speculation that he is unhappy at the club amid reports of a falling-out with Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
- Chelsea make a slow start to the 2007-08 season, losing at Aston Villa in the Premier League and drawing 1-1 with Norwegian side Rosenborg in their opening Champions League group game.
- September 20 - Chelsea confirm Mourinho's departure by mutual consent in a statement on their website on Thursday.
- REUTERS
