Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has left the club "by mutual consent" after the defending Premier League champions suffered their ninth defeat of the season, the club announced on Thursday.

Seven months removed from their title, Chelsea have earned just 15 points from their first 16 league games and are in 16th place in the table. They are only one point above the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to newly promoted Bournemouth two weeks ago and 2-1 to table-topping Leicester on Monday night.

Sources told ESPN FC that intense discussions over Mourinho's position took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the club announced that he had left on Thursday. The manager's news conference scheduled for Friday has now been canceled.

Chelsea's statement read: "Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent. All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013.

"His three league titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over two spells make him the most successful manager in our 110-year history. But both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways.

"The club wishes to make clear Jose leaves us on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea. His legacy at Stamford Bridge and in England has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge.

"The club's focus is now on ensuring our talented squad reaches its potential. There will be no further comment until a new appointment is made."

Spanish sports newspaper AS had said earlier on Thursday that the agent of former Sevilla and Tottenham boss Juande Ramos was in London negotiating with Chelsea.

Ramos has been tipped to take charge on an interim basis until the end of the season, though Telegraph journalist Sam Wallace reported Guus Hiddink is set to return.

Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo said the club do not expect to have a new man in place in time for Saturday's game against Sunderland.

"You're not a big club if you don't have contingency plans for situations like this," he said. "We're a big club that has quality coaches embedded within the club, and I think we will be OK for Saturday. We will have competent people come up and help with preparation for the game."

Chelsea have lost 12 of their past 25 games in all competitions, leading Mourinho on Monday to say that he felt "betrayed" by his players.

Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at West Ham United on Oct. 24 had seen the board tentatively discussing the idea of dismissing the Portuguese, according to ESPN FC sources.

But with the club already crashing out of the Capital One Cup to Stoke and being 20 points off the top of the Premier League, owner Roman Abramovich has opted to take a reported £30 million hit on Mourinho, who signed a new four-year contract in the summer.