Jose Mourinho sacked: Chelsea manager's most controversial moments this season

The 'Special One’s began the season by blaming the club doctor for his team’s performance, and ended with sweeping accusations of betrayal by his own players

Jose Mourinho and Iker Casillas didn't enjoy the best of relationships in Madrid (Getty)

Jose Mourinho has been sacked, bringing to an end a season that saw him attract vast amounts of criticism — off the pitch and on it.

Since summer, Mourinho has been blaming his team’s poor results and difficulties on those around him, including everyone from the team’s doctor to his own players.

Chelsea’s statement focused on the side's poor results, saying they “had not been good enough this season” and both Mourinho and the board believed it to be “in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways”.

But apart from his team’s performances, Mourinho has had a difficult year. His off-the-pitch controversies seemed to reflect an increasing sense of anxiety and pressure, setting the tone for a fraught and difficult season.

8 August — Eva Carneiro row

The difficult year began with a high-profile spat with Chelsea’s team doctor, Eva Carneiro, in the very first game of the season.

Playing against Swansea, Eden Hazard went down injured towards the end of stoppage time. Hazard asked for medics, and the referee called for them — beginning a downward spiral that would end in Mourinho leaving the club.

Mourinho was furious with Carneiro and the team’s physiotherapist, Jon Fearn. He said so repeatedly and publicly, and the feud would last until Carneiro left the club in September, and then made clear she was going to pursue legal action the following month.

3 October — ‘referees are afraid’

Mourinho claimed referees were “afraid to give a decision to Chelsea” in the wake of his team’s defeat by Southampton.

He suggested a decision not to award a penalty while the score was 1-1 had led to his team losing 3-1.

The FA reacted by giving him a suspended match ban and a £50,000 fine, the fourth such penalty he’d been hit with since he returned to English football in 2013.

21 October — criticised after pushing children in street

A 14-year-old claimed Mourinho grabbed his arm and pushed him while he attempted to film the Chelsea boss in the street.

Mourinho vented his frustrations at the press afterwards, claiming he was shown no respect by the media.

“Private life and stupid things that you bring to light, I don’t like it," he said at a press conference. "So we go to a different level of professional relationship.”

24 October— storms into referee’s room

Mourinho was hit with another fine of £40,000 and forced to serve a one-match stadium ban after he stormed into a referees dressing room at half time during a game against West Ham.

14 December – claims to be ‘betrayed’ by his own players

In what would be his last post-match interview at Chelsea, Mourinho said he had been “betrayed” by his players, and that the criticism directed at him this season was because of his success last year.

“Sometimes I find myself thinking last season I did an amazing job, brought players to a level not their level,” he said in widely-criticised remarks.

“If this is true I brought to such a level they couldn't keep for more than super-motivation to be leading. That is one possibility.”

It was not the first time Mourinho had criticised his own players and others. But it would be the last at Chelsea this season.