Chelsea on Friday finally announced that they will be parting ways with Italian tactician Antonio Conte after just two seasons in charge.

“Chelsea Football Club and Antonio Conte have parted company,” a statement on the club website read.

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Conte arrived in 2016 on the back of a solid reputation after having established Juventus as domestic powerhouses in Italy.

His tenure with the Italian national side could be deemed a success as the Azzurri punched above their weight to reach the quarters of her 2016 Euros.

“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.”

At Chelsea, it wasn’t always plain sailing as a turbulent start to his tenure had many fearing the sack, but a change to a three-man defence proved to be the turning point and the Blues didn’t look back that season.

They broke numerous records en route to a Premier League title in his debut season, but cracks had started to appear towards the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

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A very public falling out with star striker Diego Costa, repeated clashes with management over transfers had made the former Juventus boss’s position untenable.

The sack didn’t come last year, probably because he had just won the league but after a disappointing title defence in which the Blues finished fifth, Conte was finally asked to leave.

A FA Cup trophy in his second season wasn’t enough to prevent him from losing his job and truth be told, it was only a matter of time before he was put out of his misery.

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Initially Luis Enrique had been the favourite to replace him, but after Napoli announced that Carlo Ancelotti would be taking the reigns in Naples, Maurizio Sarri’s announcement was imminent.

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas had already paid a tribute to Conte on Thursday night, almost 24 hours before the Blues had confirmed the Italian’s departure.

Sarri is expected to be officially unveiled as the next Chelsea boss on the weekend.