Jorge Sampaoli has departed his job as Chile manager after a dispute with the national federation, with the 55-year-old the current favourite to be in the Chelsea dugout next season.

Fifa Coach of the Year nominee Sampaoli, who guided Chile to their first-ever Copa America crown in the summer, has spent recent weeks trying to force his way out of the job, claiming he no longer felt respected.

A statement on Football Federation of Chile (ANFP) website confirmed that in departing Sampaoli had forgone bonuses relating to the Copa America triumph.

It further added: “With this step the board of the ANFP has achieved the goal of resolving the current situation affecting the national team, avoiding uncertainty involving potential lengthy court actions.”

Sampaoli, whose managerial philosophy was largely inspired by Marcelo Bielsa, is bookmaker Bet Victor’s favourite to be Chelsea’s manager at the start of next season, priced at 2/1 ahead of interim boss Guus Hiddink and Italy’s Antonio Conte at 4s.

The former O’Higgins and Universidad de Chile head coach does not sit at the top of the champion’s shortlist to take over in the summer, which is still led by Pep Guardiola and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone.

The Premier League defeats which cost Jose Mourinho his job at Chelsea 11 show all The Premier League defeats which cost Jose Mourinho his job at Chelsea 1/11 Jose Mourinho - the new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been appointed as Manchester United's new manager nearly six months after he was sacked as Chelsea's coach. Where, however, did it all go wrong for the Special One at Stamford Bridge? Scroll through the gallery to re-visit the key games that Mourinho's Chelsea side lost - which resulted in him leaving the club in December. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images 2/11 Manchester City 3 Chelsea 0, August 16 Jose Mourinho's side suffered their first defeat of the season as goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho sent Manchester City top of the table. The loss followed a home draw with Swansea on the opening day and left the Blues 16th. Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images 3/11 Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 2, August 29 Chelsea suffered just their second home defeat in the Premier League under Jose Mourinho as Joel Ward's headed winner snatched three points late on. Radamel Falcao had cancelled out Bakary Sako's opener with a superb diving header, but Mourinho's men couldn't hold out for a point. Paul Gilham/Getty Images 4/11 Everton 3 Chelsea 1, September Everton marched past Chelsea as they dropped to 16th in the Premier League table with defeat at Goodison Park. Steven Naismith bagged a hat-trick as Nemanja Matic's impressive first-half strike could not prevent a third loss of the season. 5/11 Chelsea 1 Southampton 3, October 3 Chelsea's slump became something of a crisis as they suffered another home defeat. The Blues went in front through Willian, but Steven Davies, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle bit back with interest as the Saints grabbed their first win at Chelsea since 2002. The win prompted the Chelsea board to publicly back their under-fire boss. Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images 6/11 West Ham 2 Chelsea 1, October 24 Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic was dismissed in the first period and Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands as Andy Carroll dealt another blow to the Blues' stuttering season. Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images 7/11 Chelsea 1 Liverpool 3, October 31 Jurgen Klopp sealed his first away win in the Premier League as the pressure mounted on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Ramires had opened the scoring but an impressive Liverpool side were level just before the break through Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian then doubled his tally in the second period before Christian Benteke coolly wrapped up an impressive win. Clive Rose/Getty Images 8/11 Stoke 1 Chelsea 0, November 7 Jose Mourinho watched Chelsea's defeat to Stoke from a local hotel as he served a one-match stadium ban following his behaviour towards officials in the October defeat to West Ham. The Blues played some good football in the second half but Marko Arnautovic grabbed a winner at the back post to worsen the Chelsea boss' woes. Paul Ellis 9/11 Chelsea 0 Bournemouth 1, December 5 Chelsea struggled to break down Premier League newcomers Bournemouth in this early-December game at Stamford Bridge. Eddie Howe's men sat deep for much of the game but substitute Glenn Murray headed a late winner as the Cherries launched a rare counter. Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 10/11 Leicester 2 Chelsea 1, December 14 Premier League leaders Leicester hammered the final nail into Jose Mourinho's coffin as Chelsea dropped to within a point of the relegation zone with defeat at the King Power Stadium. Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez put the Foxes two goals up before Loic Remy's second-half header proved to be only a consolation goal. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images 11/11 Jose Mourinho sacked Chelsea finally parted ways with Jose Mourinho for the second time in December following a disastrous spell of nine Premier League defeats in their opening 16 games. Clive Mason/Getty Images 1/11 Jose Mourinho - the new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been appointed as Manchester United's new manager nearly six months after he was sacked as Chelsea's coach. Where, however, did it all go wrong for the Special One at Stamford Bridge? Scroll through the gallery to re-visit the key games that Mourinho's Chelsea side lost - which resulted in him leaving the club in December. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images 2/11 Manchester City 3 Chelsea 0, August 16 Jose Mourinho's side suffered their first defeat of the season as goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho sent Manchester City top of the table. The loss followed a home draw with Swansea on the opening day and left the Blues 16th. Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images 3/11 Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 2, August 29 Chelsea suffered just their second home defeat in the Premier League under Jose Mourinho as Joel Ward's headed winner snatched three points late on. Radamel Falcao had cancelled out Bakary Sako's opener with a superb diving header, but Mourinho's men couldn't hold out for a point. Paul Gilham/Getty Images 4/11 Everton 3 Chelsea 1, September Everton marched past Chelsea as they dropped to 16th in the Premier League table with defeat at Goodison Park. Steven Naismith bagged a hat-trick as Nemanja Matic's impressive first-half strike could not prevent a third loss of the season. 5/11 Chelsea 1 Southampton 3, October 3 Chelsea's slump became something of a crisis as they suffered another home defeat. The Blues went in front through Willian, but Steven Davies, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle bit back with interest as the Saints grabbed their first win at Chelsea since 2002. The win prompted the Chelsea board to publicly back their under-fire boss. Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images 6/11 West Ham 2 Chelsea 1, October 24 Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic was dismissed in the first period and Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands as Andy Carroll dealt another blow to the Blues' stuttering season. Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images 7/11 Chelsea 1 Liverpool 3, October 31 Jurgen Klopp sealed his first away win in the Premier League as the pressure mounted on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Ramires had opened the scoring but an impressive Liverpool side were level just before the break through Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian then doubled his tally in the second period before Christian Benteke coolly wrapped up an impressive win. Clive Rose/Getty Images 8/11 Stoke 1 Chelsea 0, November 7 Jose Mourinho watched Chelsea's defeat to Stoke from a local hotel as he served a one-match stadium ban following his behaviour towards officials in the October defeat to West Ham. The Blues played some good football in the second half but Marko Arnautovic grabbed a winner at the back post to worsen the Chelsea boss' woes. Paul Ellis 9/11 Chelsea 0 Bournemouth 1, December 5 Chelsea struggled to break down Premier League newcomers Bournemouth in this early-December game at Stamford Bridge. Eddie Howe's men sat deep for much of the game but substitute Glenn Murray headed a late winner as the Cherries launched a rare counter. Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 10/11 Leicester 2 Chelsea 1, December 14 Premier League leaders Leicester hammered the final nail into Jose Mourinho's coffin as Chelsea dropped to within a point of the relegation zone with defeat at the King Power Stadium. Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez put the Foxes two goals up before Loic Remy's second-half header proved to be only a consolation goal. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images 11/11 Jose Mourinho sacked Chelsea finally parted ways with Jose Mourinho for the second time in December following a disastrous spell of nine Premier League defeats in their opening 16 games. Clive Mason/Getty Images

With neither of that duo by any means guaranteed to choose a move to Stamford Bridge backup options include Conte and Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri, both of whom are both ahead of Sampaoli in Chelsea’s interest.

Hiddink confirmed earlier this month that he does not intend to remain at Chelsea beyond the end of the season, even if he wins the FA Cup or Champions League.

Chelsea's manager for first game of 2016/17 odds (BetVictor) Jorge Sampaoli - 2/1

Guus Hiddink - 4/1

Antonio Conte - 4/1

Pep Guardiola - 6/1

Diego Simeone - 6/1

Brendan Rodgers - 10/1

Max Allegri - 12/1

ANFP president Arturo Salah said that the board would now seek an immediate replacement, with Chile currently lying in the playoff spot in South American qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini had been linked with the job but has distanced himself from a return to his homeland.

“I hope to remain with competitive teams in Europe. I am not thinking about returning to Chile at least for the next three or four years,” he told Radio Cooperativa.

To place a bet on the next Chelsea manager head to Bet Victor.