It is no longer new news that Chelsea as a club is heading into its last days of the Roman Abramovich era. The Russian’s time at the helm in west London is coming to an end after the Premier League considered the oligarch unfit to run the club as a result of the sanctions placed on him by the United Kingdom’s government. Now, the quest to crown a new successor is nearing its end, though as it stands, Abramovich is still the rightful owner of the historic club.
The Blues have seen successes domestically and abroad under Abramovich’s care. Much of this success is due to the millions of pounds the 55-year-old has put into the club, but all this couldn’t have possibly been done if not for the help of talented managers who have led the team to glory throughout the last 19 years. Chelsea has always had the culture of firing and appointing managers more often than not, so this has seen Stamford Bridge become home to some of the greatest tactical minds in the world. Thus, picking a top five was a rather difficult task.
It is important to give honorable mentions where they are due, as well, given the amount of coaches who have walked in and out the doors at Cobham. These include managers who deserve to be on the list, noteworthy mentions I must say, but aren’t able to match the resume of those above them. Trust me when I say there are a lot of deserving figures too. It is also important to note that in this piece, trophies won are not the only thing considered; long-term impact and a handful of other factors are also considered.
Here are the top five most impactful managers (and honorable mentions) that Chelsea has had during the Abramovich era.