Jose Mourinho has just been sacked as Chelsea manager

So long, Jose.

BBC Sport has reported that Chelsea have sacked Jose Mourinho following his side's disastrous title defence this season.

The Blues' season has lurched from one disaster to another this year, and following their 2-1 loss to Leicester this week, the club has decided to part ways with the Special One.

So what next for one of the best football managers of all-time?

Having won league titles in at least four different countries (Portugal, England, Italy, and Spain), not to mention the Champions League with Porto and Inter, we can’t imagine the ink on his CV will be dry for long. 

And here's a poser: what’s the betting he’s the next manager of Manchester United? If reports are to be believed, Louis Van Gaal's time is running out at Old Trafford, and given Mourinho was once the favourite to take over from Sir Alex when the red-nosed one retired, it's not out of the realms. 

With Chelsea languishing in 16th place, just one place above the relegation zone, any of the rumoured successors would have a hefty task to haul them back into the top four spots. But with Pep Guardiola out of contract in summer, who knows what Roman Abramovich has planned next.

There have been reports of interim managers holding the fort until next season, when former Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti will have ended his year out of the game, and Pep Guardiola may have left Bayern, with former Spurs boss Juande Ramos and even former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers mentioned. The latest rumours suggest Guus Hiddink will once again step into the breach - he did the same following Luis Felipe Scolari's sacking in 2009, guiding Chelsea to the FA Cup. Mind you, the last time he fired Jose, Abramovich got Avram Grant in, so it's anyone's guess.

Still, nice of the billionaire to give Arsenal fans an early Christmas present this year.

[Images: Rex]