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Five best Chelsea managers of the Roman Abramovich era

By Joseph Joe

PORTO, PORTUGAL - MAY 29: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea and Roman Abramovich, Owner of Chelsea celebrate following their team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
PORTO, PORTUGAL - MAY 29: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea and Roman Abramovich, Owner of Chelsea celebrate following their team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 20: Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti prepares substitutes Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on March 20, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 20: Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti prepares substitutes Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on March 20, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

5. Carlo Ancelotti

Tenure: 2009 to 2011
Record: 67-20-22

Following an unsuccessful appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2008 and Hiddink’s return to Russia, up next for the permanent role was Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian was a huge success domestically for Chelsea, leading the Blues to the Premier League and FA Cup double—the only time the club had achieved this in their history. During their Premier League win, the Blues scored a then-record-breaking (until Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City came along) 103 goals, including 7-goal or bigger victories on four different occasions. An 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic on the final day sealed the title before a 1-0 win over Portsmouth wrapped up the FA Cup.

However, his second season was not as successful as the first in the eyes of the owner as he posted just 71 points—the lowest under Abramovich at the time—and he was reportedly sacked in the tunnel following a 1-0 away loss to Everton on the final day of the 2010/11 campaign.

4. Antonio Conte

Tenure: 2016 to 2018
Record: 69-17-20

With the Jose Mourinho Mk. II project having failed to work out, fresh off a 10th-place finish, Antonio Conte was given the hard task of transforming an out-of-balance Chelsea team into title contenders. It originally looked as though the Italian would be unable to change the Blues’ luck, with two consecutive defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal, the second a 3-0 humiliation, causing Conte’s odds on being sacked to shorten.

However, he did his homework during the second half of the defeat to the Gunners and things began click as Conte changed formation to a three at the back, pushing the once lost Victor Moses in at wingback. Chelsea then went on a 13-game winning run, which included six consecutive clean sheets and saw wins come against Manchester United, Tottenham and Manchester City; only the second team to achieve such a streak at that time. This was the catalyst for the Blues’ Premier League title win. They went on to win 30 Premier League games, which was a new record until Guardiola’s Man City side rewrote the history books in 2017/18.

Conte reached the FA Cup final in each of his two seasons at the club, losing to Arsenal in 2016/17 before the victory over Man United in his final game in charge of Chelsea. Conte’s second season was not as great with the Blues losing on the opening day to Burnley in what was originally a shock (though possibly served as an example of things to come for the Clarets). Defeats to the likes of West Ham, Watford, Bournemouth and a 3-0 loss to Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle on the final day summed up Chelsea’s season, despite winning the FA Cup, with the 28-year unbeaten home record against Tottenham also falling during that time.

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