Ranking every Chelsea manager under Roman Abramovich
10. Avram Grant
Season: 2007 to 2008
Trophies: None
Record: 36-13-5
After Mourinho’s first spell at the club came to an end, the appointment of Avram Grant came as a big surprise to the fans. Despite the lack of experience from the Israeli, Grant did very well at the club, leading it to close to three titles. In the Premier League, Chelsea pushed Manchester United into the final day of the season. The Blues reached the League Cup final and their first Champions League final, as well, but the lack of trophies eventually saw him depart at the end of the season.
9. Rafael Benitez
Tenure: 2012 to 2013
Trophies: Europa League
Record: 28-10-10
Rafael Benitez is undoubtedly one of the most hated managers amongst the Blues’ supporters. His appointment as the club’s interim manager after the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo was not treated well by fans due to his Liverpool background and previous comments about the club. Luckily for them, the Spaniard was brought in only to steady the ship, rather than build for the future. Chelsea eventually finished third in the Premier League, but the biggest success under Benitez came in the form of the club’s first Europa League trophy.
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8. Maurizio Sarri
Tenure: 2018 to 2019
Trophies: Europa League
Record: 38-14-11
Maurizio Sarri replaced Conte at the helm. The Italian started his tenure very well, winning the first 12 matches in the Premier League and becoming the first manager to do so. Nevertheless, the good start soon tailed off rather spectacularly and soon questions started to arise about whether he would even last a season at Stamford Bridge. Sarri did win his first trophy as a manager at Chelsea, beating Arsenal in the Europa League final, but left at the end of the season for Juventus. Although he technically departed for another job, it was becoming increasingly clear by the end of the campaign that the chain-smoking Italian would be given the boot regardless.
7. Guus Hiddink (I)
Tenure: 2009
Trophies: FA Cup
Record: 16-5-1
The first interim manager under Abramovich was Hiddink, who inherited a team with the foundations of the success of Scolari. The team went on to play 22 games under Hiddink, out of which they only lost one game. The Blues finished third in the Premier League and went on to win the FA Cup by beating Everton. Chelsea was close to reaching its second consecutive Champions League final before the controversial semifinal game against Barcelona.
6. Roberto Di Matteo
Tenure: 2012
Trophies: Champions League, FA Cup
Record: 25-8-9
Di Matteo was brought in to replace Villas-Boas just to see out the season, but he would go on to become one of the best managers Chelsea has ever had. The former player turned manager led the club to its first ever Champions League trophy with the help of the same old names that Villas-Boas tried to move out of the team just months prior. The Blues finished sixth in the Premier League, but they did go on to win the FA Cup too. However, with a relatively poor start to the following season and the team demoted to the Europa League, Di Matteo was sacked.