After just nine months in charge of the club, Roberto Di Matteo was relieved of his duties as manager of European champions Chelsea this morning.
In a statement the club cited a string of negative results as the major contributing factor behind their decision to part company with the Italian.
With the news of Di Matteo's departure still sinking in, Sports Mole has looked back over the key moments from the former Chelsea midfielder's stint in charge at Stamford Bridge.
March 2012
As assistant to Andre Villas-Boas, who was sacked early in March, Di Matteo was asked to take interim charge of the team until the end of the season by owner Roman Abramovich. Realistically the Premier League title was beyond the Blues by that stage, but they were still in the FA Cup and Champions League.
It was in Europe where Chelsea produced many of their most memorable performances under Di Matteo. The first came at home Napoli. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in Naples, the Blues battled hard to win through 4-1 in extra time. Stalwarts Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard were among the goals that night.
April 2012
Now in the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League, many were calling for Di Matteo to be handed the job on a permanent basis. His stock grew even more when Chelsea crushed London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 to reach the FA Cup final - a tournament close to Di Matteo's heart.
Meanwhile, having overcome Benfica in the quarter-finals, Barcelona now stood in the way of Chelsea reaching their second Champions League final in recent years. Didier Drogba scored the only goal at the Bridge, giving his side a slender lead heading to the Nou Camp. What unfolded in Spain had many wondering if Chelsea were destined to win the trophy.
Hosting Barcelona dominated the encounter a raced into a two-goal advantage, while skipper Terry was red-carded for the Blues for stupidly kicking out at Alexis Sanchez. However, Ramires pulled a goal back before the break, which meant Chelsea went in front on away goals. Then in stoppage time the troubled Fernando Torres made it 2-2, sending an ecstatic Chelsea to Munich.
May 2012
Di Matteo continued his love affair with the FA Cup as a Drogba-inspired Chelsea clinched the trophy at the expense of Liverpool.
That success was overshadowed though by events in Munich on Saturday, May 19. Even the most loyal of Chelsea supporters will hold their hands up and concede that their team was battered by Bayern Munich, who were contesting the final in their own stadium.
Nevertheless, as he had done on so many occasions under Di Matteo, Drogba came to Chelsea's rescue with a late equaliser to force extra time. The powerful Ivorian then went on to score the winning penalty in the shootout as the Blues were crowned European champions for the first time in their history. It would prove to be Drogba's last match in a Chelsea shirt - something that would come back to haunt his manager.
© PA Photos
The summer
In June Chelsea confirmed that Di Matteo had penned a two-year permanent contract at the Bridge. It took a while for that news to filter through amid reports that Abramovich was keen to hire Pep Guardiola.
Now in full charge, Di Matteo had the task of bolstering his playing squad.
Young talents such as Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses were recruited to give Chelsea some much-needed flair. Drogba was not replaced though, with Di Matteo seemingly putting his faith in the misfiring Torres.
August 2012
Despite losing the Community Shield to champions Manchester City, Di Matteo's men went on to win all three Premier League matches. The likes of Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata were also producing the sort of football that Chelsea fans had craved since the days of Arjen Robben and Damien Duff.
Torres was proving to be a problem though. The £50m frontman was still looking out of sorts.
One player on top his game was Falcao, who inspired Atletico Madrid to the European Super Cup at the expense of Chelsea. Reports over the summer had claimed the Blues were keen to sign the Colombian - right now Di Matteo may very well regret not pursuing that avenue further!
September and October 2012
By and large Chelsea's Premier League form under Di Matteo was positive during the opening three months. They lead the way for most of it, playing some impressive football along the way.
The Champions League was becoming a stumbling block though. A 2-2 draw with Juventus (despite leading 2-0 at one stage) and a defeat in the Ukraine against Shakhtar Donetsk left their qualification hopes looking bleak.
November 2012
Having lost to title rivals Manchester United at the end of October, what followed was draws with Swansea City and Liverpool and then a defeat to Di Matteo's former club West Bromwich Albion.
That was accompanied by a defeat to Juventus last night in the Champions League, leaving qualification for the next round out of the club's hands. His faith and patience in Torres had also appeared to have waned. In what was arguably Chelsea's biggest game of the season, Di Matteo dropped the Spaniard and opted to play without a recognised centre-forward - a decision that backfired with a toothless performance.
Should Chelsea exit in the group stages, they will become the first holders to do so.
The writing was on the wall from then on, although the pace in which his sacking has happened has surprised many. Some reports claim that he was even dismissed at 5am!
Liam Apicella
