Juande Ramos and Guus Hiddink have been tipped to
succeed Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, but Pep Guardiola
is the long-term big prize.
Jose Mourinho's second spell in charge of Chelsea ended
ignominiously on Thursday, with the Portuguese sacked just
eight months after winning the Premier League title.
The 52-year-old has managed just four wins from 16 matches
in the league so far this season, leaving the reigning champions
only one point clear of the relegation zone.
The decision leaves owner Roman Abramovich again seeking to
replace the most successful manager in the club's history.
Be it a short-term solution or long-term successor, the new man
will be required to steer the team to safety and attempt to
prolong the club's Champions League campaign, with Paris
Saint-Germain awaiting in the round of 16 next year.
So who are the candidates to take over Stamford Bridge?
Juande Ramos
The former Sevilla and Tottenham boss had touted in the days
leading up to Mourinho's dismissal as a possible caretaker. The
Spaniard has been out of work since leaving Ukrainian club
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in 2014. Ramos is unlikely to wow the
demanding Blues supporters and may not have the passion
necessary to rouse the squad from their prolonged slump.
Guus Hiddink
The 69-year-old Dutchman was linked by several outlets with
the post in the immediate wake of Mourinho's sacking. The
former PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid coach succeeded Luiz
Felipe Scolari on a temporary basis at Chelsea in 2009, guiding
the team to FA Cup success. His stock has fallen since then
and he was most recently spotted failing to impress during his
second spell in charge of the Netherlands national team.
Brendan Rodgers
Once a member of Mourinho's backroom staff at Chelsea, the
Northern Irishman has since earned promotion with Swansea
City and taken Liverpool on a thrilling title challenge in 2013-14,
securing Champions League qualification in the process, before
receiving the sack earlier this season.
Apparently adamant he is deserving of a long-term role at a
heavyweight club, a caretaker position may not be to the 42-
year-old's liking, while Abramovich and his advisors would
surely be reluctant to offer more than a deal until the end of the
season. David Moyes, a flop at Manchester United and Real
Sociedad, is also available.
Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian won the Premier League and the FA Cup with
Chelsea between 2009 and 2011 before receiving his marching
orders, going on to win Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and
the Champions League at Real Madrid.
Many feel he was harshly dismissed by Abramovich four years
ago but it remains to be seen if he could be lured back.
Ancelotti, who had back surgery after leaving Madrid earlier this
year, has publicly stated his intention to wait until the end of this
season to return to management.
Pep Guardiola
He will not be the caretaker, but the former Barcelona coach is
expected to imminently announce his decision to leave Bayern
Munich at the end of this season.
Manchester City, led by senior former Barca figures Ferran
Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, are believed to be in pole position
to secure his services, but underperforming Manchester United
and now manager-less Chelsea could yet enter the race.
Rafael Benitez
The ex-Liverpool boss won the Europa League with Chelsea
after replacing Champions League winner Roberto Di Matteo,
himself initially a caretaker, in 2012-13.
The Spaniard is now in charge at Real Madrid but is proving
less than universally popular with the Santiago Bernabeu
faithful. Perhaps a sensational straight swap could be possible,
with former Madrid president Ramon Calderon - no friend of
incumbent supremo Florentino Perez - touting a return for
Mourinho to the Spanish capital.
And while that may be an unlikely prospect, so was the
likelihood of Mourinho being sacked before the turn of the year
when he lifted his third Premier League title in May.
succeed Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, but Pep Guardiola
is the long-term big prize.
Jose Mourinho's second spell in charge of Chelsea ended
ignominiously on Thursday, with the Portuguese sacked just
eight months after winning the Premier League title.
The 52-year-old has managed just four wins from 16 matches
in the league so far this season, leaving the reigning champions
only one point clear of the relegation zone.
The decision leaves owner Roman Abramovich again seeking to
replace the most successful manager in the club's history.
Be it a short-term solution or long-term successor, the new man
will be required to steer the team to safety and attempt to
prolong the club's Champions League campaign, with Paris
Saint-Germain awaiting in the round of 16 next year.
So who are the candidates to take over Stamford Bridge?
Juande Ramos
The former Sevilla and Tottenham boss had touted in the days
leading up to Mourinho's dismissal as a possible caretaker. The
Spaniard has been out of work since leaving Ukrainian club
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in 2014. Ramos is unlikely to wow the
demanding Blues supporters and may not have the passion
necessary to rouse the squad from their prolonged slump.
Guus Hiddink
The 69-year-old Dutchman was linked by several outlets with
the post in the immediate wake of Mourinho's sacking. The
former PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid coach succeeded Luiz
Felipe Scolari on a temporary basis at Chelsea in 2009, guiding
the team to FA Cup success. His stock has fallen since then
and he was most recently spotted failing to impress during his
second spell in charge of the Netherlands national team.
Brendan Rodgers
Once a member of Mourinho's backroom staff at Chelsea, the
Northern Irishman has since earned promotion with Swansea
City and taken Liverpool on a thrilling title challenge in 2013-14,
securing Champions League qualification in the process, before
receiving the sack earlier this season.
Apparently adamant he is deserving of a long-term role at a
heavyweight club, a caretaker position may not be to the 42-
year-old's liking, while Abramovich and his advisors would
surely be reluctant to offer more than a deal until the end of the
season. David Moyes, a flop at Manchester United and Real
Sociedad, is also available.
Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian won the Premier League and the FA Cup with
Chelsea between 2009 and 2011 before receiving his marching
orders, going on to win Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and
the Champions League at Real Madrid.
Many feel he was harshly dismissed by Abramovich four years
ago but it remains to be seen if he could be lured back.
Ancelotti, who had back surgery after leaving Madrid earlier this
year, has publicly stated his intention to wait until the end of this
season to return to management.
Pep Guardiola
He will not be the caretaker, but the former Barcelona coach is
expected to imminently announce his decision to leave Bayern
Munich at the end of this season.
Manchester City, led by senior former Barca figures Ferran
Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, are believed to be in pole position
to secure his services, but underperforming Manchester United
and now manager-less Chelsea could yet enter the race.
Rafael Benitez
The ex-Liverpool boss won the Europa League with Chelsea
after replacing Champions League winner Roberto Di Matteo,
himself initially a caretaker, in 2012-13.
The Spaniard is now in charge at Real Madrid but is proving
less than universally popular with the Santiago Bernabeu
faithful. Perhaps a sensational straight swap could be possible,
with former Madrid president Ramon Calderon - no friend of
incumbent supremo Florentino Perez - touting a return for
Mourinho to the Spanish capital.
And while that may be an unlikely prospect, so was the
likelihood of Mourinho being sacked before the turn of the year
when he lifted his third Premier League title in May.
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