The new Chelsea manager: Guardiola, Mourinho, Hiddink, Redknapp and all the contenders assessed
Carlo Ancelotti is the latest Chelsea manager to be shown the Stamford Bridge exit door, but where will the Blues and, more importantly, Roman Abramovich turn next? talkSPORT looks at the contenders…
PEP GUARDIOLA
Why Chelsea would want him: Guardiola has developed one of the most attractive and successful club teams in the history of football. While Abramovich has yet to see Chelsea win the Champions League, Guardiola has reached two finals in three seasons at the Nou Camp, knocking out Chelsea en route to their 2009 success. If anyone knows the secret to Barcelona's success, it is Guardiola, who also won 16 medals as a Barca player.
Availability: Guardiola has a contract with Barcelona until the end of the 2011/12 season, but if he wins the Champions League again this year, there would be little more for him to achieve at the Nou Camp.
Harry Redknapp
Why Chelsea would want him: Harry Redknapp's teams always play good, attacking football and this season he proved he can cut it in the Champions League with Tottenham's thrilling run to the quarter-finals. With a stronger team and 11 men on the field, Redknapp would have every chance of going further next time round. Abramovich has had six foreign managers at Chelsea and none of them have delivered the Champions League success he craves, so why not give the job to England's premier manager?
Availability: Redknapp's contract at Tottenham runs out in 2013, but he would be sorely tempted by Stamford Bridge.
GUUS HIDDINK
Why Chelsea would want him: Hiddink is well known to Roman Abramovich having managed Chelsea before as well as the Russian national team. The Dutchman's brief temporary spell in charge at Stamford Bridge delivered an FA Cup and a good Champions League run, in which the Blues were unfortunate to miss out on the final after a contRoversial last four defeat to Barcelona. Hiddink knows what it's like to win the European Cup, albeit it way back in 1988 with PSV Eindhoven.
Availability: Hiddink is currently manager of the Turkish national team and has a contract that runs out in October 2011.
JOSE MOURINHO
Why Chelsea would want him: Mourinho would be the most popular choice with Chelsea fans and, despite finishing second best to Barcelona in La Liga and the Champions League, is undoubtedly a winner. Chelsea might be wise to get the Special One back on board sooner rather than later, with the possibility that he could end up beating them to the game's biggest prizes at Real or, worse, Manchester United when Fergie finally calls it a day.
Availability: Mourinho is one year into a four-season contract with Real Madrid and has unfinished business at the Bernabeu, having failed to knock Barcelona off top spot and lost out in Europe to his greatest rivals.
MARCO VAN BASTEN
Why Chelsea would want him: Marco Van Basten is still one of the biggest names in world football, thanks to an illustrious playing career and his spell as Dutch national team manager was marked by some bold attacking play. There is the possibility that he could also work in tandem with fellow Dutchman Hiddink, with the elder man joining as Chelsea's new Director of Football in October when his contract with Turkey expires. Van Basten's only experience of club management ended after Ajax failed to qualify for the Champions League, so he could benefit from Hiddink's years of successful managerial experience.
Availability: Van Basten is a free agent.
RAFA BENITEZ
Why Chelsea would want him: Rafael Benitez knows how to win Champions League ties. This is a man who won the tournament with perhaps the weakest team ever to lift the Champions League trophy, in his first season at Liverpool. In five seasons at Anfield he reached two finals (beating Mourinho's Chelsea twice) and one semi final, beating the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter in their own back yards.
Availability: Abramovich might have to check with Football Focus to see when Benitez is free.
Mark Hughes
Why Chelsea would want him: Hughes is a former Chelsea player who is hungry to succeed at a higher level after enjoying relative success at Fulham and Blackburn Rovers. His spell at Manchester City ended with the sack in December 2009, which was harsh considering they had only lost twice, were sixth in the league and in the League Cup semi-finals.
Availability: Hughes has only one year left of a two-year contract at Craven Cottage.
GUS POYET
Why Chelsea would want him: The Brighton boss had a very successful spell as a player at Stamford Bridge, where he was a cult hero. As a manager he's done a brilliant job at Brighton And Hove Albion, taking them up to the Championship while playing attractive football, but the Premier League and Champions League football may be a step too far at this point in his career.
Availability: Poyet has a contract with Brighton until 2014.
ANDRE VillaS-BOAS
Why Chelsea would want him: Villas-Boas is the hottest new property on the managerial block, having guided Porto to a treble of League, Cup and Europa League in his first full season as a manager. Incredibly, Porto won the title without losing a game and Villas-Boas could be set to follow in Jose Mourinho's footsteps in more ways than one.
Availability: Last December Porto extended Villas-Boas' contract until 2013.
SURELY NOT…
AVRAM GRANT
Why Chelsea would want him: Lest we forget Avram Grant took Chelsea to within one penalty of winning the Champions League. Oh, and he's Abramovich's mate.
Availability: After taking Pompey and West Ham down, Grant's surprisingly available right now.
Who would you like to see as the new Chelsea manager? Let us know by commenting below…