( CNN ) -- Serie A champions Inter Milan have confirmed the dismissal of coach Roberto Mancini , opening the way for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to replace him . Mancini guided Inter Milan to the Italian league title for three successive seasons . Ironically , the 43-year-old Mancini , who guided Inter to three successive Italian league titles , is now the favorite to take Mourinho 's former job at Stamford Bridge . Inter -- who won the first of their three titles in 2006 because those above them were demoted or deducted points over the matchfixing scandal -- released a statement about the sacking . `` Inter Milan have informed Roberto Mancini that he has been relieved of his role as coach , especially because of his comments that he was not going to stay after the end of the season following the Champions League tie against Liverpool on March 11 , '' read their statement . Mancini , however , rescinded those comments the following day declaring that he had made them in the heat of the moment following Inter 's elimination from the competition , losing 3-0 on aggregate . Inter 's reasons for sacking Mancini appear less credible after club president Massimo Moratti announced that the coach had changed his mind about leaving at the end of the season . `` I 've had a talk with Mancini , who confirmed to me that he wanted to stay at Inter next year to see out his contract . He wants to win the Champions League for us next season , '' Moratti said on March 12 . `` Mancini 's words surprised me , I did n't expect it and even less so I believe the people close to him . '' Mourinho , nicknamed 'The Special One ' for guiding Porto to the Champions League in 2004 and then Chelsea to two Premier League titles , would not come cheap , but the exit of Mancini has cost Inter dear too as his contract , which runs till 2012 , will leave him 24 million euros richer as compensation . However , Mancini was unable to make Inter into viable Champions League contenders despite the three Serie A titles . Mancini is the ninth coaching casualty under Moratti , following Ottavio Bianchi , Roy Hodgson , Luigi Simoni , Mircea Lucescu , Marcello Lippi , Marco Tardelli , Hector Cuper and Alberto Zaccheroni .
Serie A champions Inter Milan confirm dismissal of coach Mancini . Roberto Mancini allegedly fired for comments made after defeat to Liverpool in March 12 . Former Liverpool manager Roberto Mancini favorite to take over at the San Siro .