Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was sacked on Monday after a run of just one win five Premier League games left the London club ninth in the table with 29 points from 19 games. 

The 2-0 loss against Leicester on January 20 was their fifth in eight league games, having lost just once in their opening 11 fixtures. 

In a statement, Chelsea said that Lampard’s firing comes after their “recent results and performances have not met the Club’s expectations, leaving the Club mid-table without any clear path to sustained improvement.”

“This has been a very difficult decision, and not one that the owner and the Board have taken lightly,” the statement added.

Lampard signed a three-year deal in July 2019 to replace Italian coach Maurizio Sarri after an impressive stint in the Championship with Derby County.

He became the 10th full-time manager under Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovic. 

Paying tribute to the former midfielder, Abramovic said, “This was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him.”

Also Read | Chelsea turn a profit despite impact of coronavirus

“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.”

“On behalf of everyone at the Club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future. He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”

With a transfer embargo and star player Eden Hazard leaving for Real Madrid, Lampard led Chelsea to a top-four finish, as well as the FA Cup final. 

Given a war-chest of over £200 million ahead of the new season, Lampard’s move to sign star players like Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and others has not yielded results so far, with the club three points and five places worse-off in comparison with last season. 

His last game in charge was the 3-1 FA Cup win over Championship side Luton Town. 

Top scorer for the club with 211 goals, including 177 in the Premier League, in 648 appearances over 13 years from 2001 to 2004, Lampard won 11 major honours, including three Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League. 

Although the club hasn’t confirmed a replacement yet, former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel is favourite for the job.