French star early favourite to succeed Mourinho at Chelsea
Didier Deschamps has emerged as one of the frontrunners to replace Jose Mourinho as manager at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho dramatically left the club on Thursday by mutual consent after a poor start to the season.
He is understood to have contacted five senior players on Wednesday afternoon to inform them of his departure and by midnight the entire first team squad had learned he was going.
Peter Kenyon, the club's chief executive, Bruce Buck, the chairman, and Roman Abramovich's key aide, Eugene Tenenbaum, were called to an emergency meeting at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to discuss the emerging crisis.
The club eventually confirmed Mourinho's departure in the early hours of Thursday when they posted a statement on the club's official website.
The statement read: "Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent."
Absent
Many of Chelsea's staff and players had been enjoying a relaxing evening at a Fulham Broadway cinema on Wednesday night as they watched a screening of 'Blue Revolution'' - a new documentary about the Abramovich years.
But senior players like captain John Terry and England midfielder Frank Lampard were absent and the remainder, except a reluctant England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, refused to talk to the media.
Mourinho also attended the evening but ignored the waiting media.
But Deschamps, who captained France to the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, is now one of the names in the frame to replace Mourinho.
Deschamps began his coaching career with Monaco before joining Juventus. But he resigned from the Italian club in May 2007 and is currently out of football.
Relationship
He spent a year with Chelsea as a player in 1999-2000 - winning the FA Cup.
It is thought the relationship between Mourinho and owner Abramovich came to a head after their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month.
Mourinho has been at loggerheads with the Russian since their disagreement over the lack of funds to sign players during last January's transfer window.
Mourinho's reluctance to play Andriy Shevchenko only served to heighten the tension.
Mourinho's departure will be followed by his backroom staff although assistant Steve Clarke is expected to remain on the payroll for now.
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