Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, the club has confirmed.
Speaking at a packed press conference at the Bernabeu, president Florentino Perez said the club and the Portuguese boss had agreed a mutual decision to part ways.
Mourinho, who is now widely expected to return to his former club Chelsea, won a trophy in each of his three seasons in the Spanish capital – the Copa del Rey in his first year, La Liga in his second, and the Spanish Supercopa earlier this season.
Despite the successes, a failure to win the Champions League – he guided Madrid to three successive semi finals – along with the recent defeat to city rivals Atletico de Madrid in the Copa de Rey final, meant the writing was on the wall for Mourinho.
Perez told journalists: “We don’t think our achievements of this year have been sufficient for a demanding club like Real Madrid or coach like Mourinho.”
He added that the decision to go their separate ways was mutual and the club wished Mourinho every success for the future as well as thanking him for the work he has carried out since 2010.
Mourinho’s time in the managerial hotseat at the Bernabeu has not been without controversy. He has had a number of high profile fallings out with current stars in the squad such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Pepe, all of who have been dropped on various occasions.
Reports have suggested he is only on speaking terms with three players in the squad – something that is likely to have hastened his decision to leave.
In the press conference, Perez refused to speak about potential candidates to replace Mourinho, saying: “We don’t have an agreement with any other manager.”
It come amid growing speculation PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti will take over following confirmation he has asked to leave the French champions.
Perez also called for new elections and said he would run for president again and will present his project in the coming days.
