Now it is official - Antonio Conte is no longer manager of Chelsea. The London club has issued a statement on their website confirming the Italian's departure.

"Chelsea Football Club and Antonio Conte have parted company," the statement says.

"During Antonio’s time at the club, we won our sixth league title and eighth FA Cup. In the title winning season, the club set a then-record 30 wins in a 38-game Premier League season, as well as a club-record 13 consecutive league victories.

"We wish Antonio every success in his future career."

The reason for Conte's dismissal is quite obvious - last season, Chelsea finished only fifth in the Premier League and could not book a Champions League ticket.

The previous season, which saw Antonio's debut one in charge of Chelsea, was much more successful in the league, as the Londoners won the title. 

After that, the club extended Conte's contract until 2019, but, as we see now, he will not serve his full term.

This year, Chelsea won the FA Cup, but it did not convince the club management to keep the Italian in his position.

In fact, his successor at Chelsea is already known - the fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri has not officially signed a contract yet, but there is hardly any doubt that he will do it soon.

Sarri, who coached Napoli since 2015, has already been replaced at this club by Carlo Ancelotti, so now he is ready to take charge of the English club.