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Carlo Ancelotti sacked by Bayern Munich, with Jurgen Klopp among leading candidates to replace him
Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked by Bayern Munich in the wake of the Bundesliga champions' 3-0 defeat to Paris St Germain in the Champions League last night.
The departure of the 58-year-old Italian, who has also managed Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid, has been announced by the Bavarian club this afternoon.
He leaves with Bayern third in the Bundesliga table behind Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim after four wins from six games and second behind PSG in Champions League Group B after defeat to the French side in Paris.
Ancelotti had been in charge at Bayern since the summer of 2016.
He becomes the earliest dismissal in a season ever in Bayern's history. Jupp Heynckes was previously the earliest departure in the 1991/92 season when he left on October 4.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is one of the leading candidates to succeed Ancelotti, but former Thomas Tuchel has been installed as one of the early favourites at 6/4.
Tuchel has been out of work since leaving Bayern rivals Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season.
Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann is another name whose odds have shortened since Ancelotti's dismissal.
Hoffenheim are second in the Bundesliga after a flying start to the season and would be a great chance for a 30-year-old manager who only took over the position last year.
Klopp, meanwhile, is currently 10/1 with bookmakers. The former Dortmund boss is starting to feel the pressure at Liverpool this season.
Ancelotti's assistant coach Willy Sagnol will take charge of the team, who return to Bundesliga action at Hertha Berlin on Sunday, on an interim basis.
A statement on the club website said Ancelotti had left after "internal analysis" following the defeat to PSG.
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "The performance of our team since the start of the season did not meet the expectations we put to them. The game in Paris clearly showed that we had to draw consequences.
"(Bayern sporting director) Hasan Salihamidzic and I had an open and serious discussion with Carlo today and informed him of our decision.
"I would like to thank Carlo for his co-operation and regret this development. Carlo is my friend and will remain (so), but we had to make a professional decision for FC Bayern.
"I now expect the team to have a positive development and absolute performance, so we can reach our goals for this season. "