“It has been a huge privilege and an honour to manage Chelsea, a club that has been a big part of my life for so long,” he wrote.

“Firstly, I would like to thank the fans for the incredible support that I have received over the last 18 months.

“I hope they know what that means to me.

“When I took on this role I understood the challenges that lay ahead in a difficult time for the football club.

“I am proud of the achievements that we made, and I am proud of the academy players that have made their step into the first team and performed so well.