Here we look at the five key results that brought an abrupt end to Villas-Boas's brief reign in west London:
Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5 (October 29, 2011)
The Blues conceded twice in the last five minutes as Arsenal, inspired by a Robin van Persie hat-trick, took the points despite trailing twice.
A pulsating London derby provided the first sign that Chelsea's defence was crumbling under Villas-Boas's demand for a high line, which exposed the creaking limbs of John Terry and company to attacks from speedy strikers.
Chelsea 3 Manchester United 3 (February 5, 2012)
Villas-Boas looked set for a famous win over the reigning English champions as his side surged into a three-goal lead by the 50th minute.
But Stamford Bridge was stunned as Sir Alex Ferguson's team snatched a dramatic point thanks to a pair of Wayne Rooney penalties and Javier Hernandez's equaliser with just six minutes left.
Everton 2 Chelsea 0 (February 11, 2012)
The pressure was beginning to mount on Villas-Boas as Chelsea dropped out of the top four after goals from Steven Pienaar and Denis Stracqualursi punished a timid display at Goodison Park.
Villas-Boas responded by cancelling his squad's day off and called them in for an inquest, which only provoked several senior Chelsea stars to question their manager's tactics in front of owner Roman Abramovich.
Napoli 3 Chelsea 1 (February 21, 2012)
Villas-Boas's clumsy attempt to stamp his authority on the squad by dropping Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien back-fired in spectacular fashion in the Champions League last 16 first-leg clash.
A series of defensive blunders from his new-look line-up exposed the flaw in Villas-Boas's gamble and two goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi as well as an Edinson Cavani strike left Chelsea on the brink of a Euro meltdown.
West Bromwich Albion 1 Chelsea 0 (March 3, 2012)
After using a radio interview to challenge Abramovich to change his policy of quickly sacking underachieving managers, Villas-Boas desperately needed a victory at The Hawthorns.
Instead, he got one last dismal defeat as Gareth McAuley's 82nd-minute winner left Chelsea in fifth place, three points behind Arsenal. Less than 24 hours later he was dismissed.
Source: AFP
Source: AFP