Arguably the hottest of hot seats in soccer is vacant yet again after Chelsea's ruthless Russian owner Roman Abramovich removed Andre Villas-Boas on Sunday.
Under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas only needs the support of owner Roman Abramovich to carry out his duties and does not require the full backing of his squad, the Portuguese said on Thursday.
Didier Drogba scored Chelsea's goal and their winning Champions League penalty against Bayern Munich on Saturday and then solemnly appeared to say his farewells.
Following Carlo Ancelotti's sacking, Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at EPL managers who lost their jobs after failing to deliver this season.
Since the billionaire from Russia took control of the London club in 2003, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti have all left Stamford Bridge after failing to reach the Holy Grail.
Andre Villas-Boas believes there is no imminent danger of him being sacked even though Chelsea have already lost six games this season, a run of poor form that is almost unparalleled since billionaire owner Roman Abramovich took over in 2003.
Ivorian Drogba, who had been playing in the United States for Phoenix Rising, had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games having spearheaded the west London club's revival under owner Roman Abramovich.
Andre Villas-Boas could emulate Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal by remaining Chelsea's manager for 10 or 15 years, club chairman Bruce Buck said on Thursday.
Here are six who could make the biggest impact in this season's English Premier League.
Chelsea long-serving captain John Terry has signed a new one-year contract, making a U-turn after saying in January he would be leaving at the end of the season. The club's website said Terry, 35, had agreed a new deal that would take him into a 22nd season at Stamford Bridge which he joined as a schoolboy. "I am delighted to sign a new contract with the club. Everyone knows I'm Chelsea through and through," Terry said. "I am looking forward to next season under the new manager and hopefully we can make it a successful one."
Tuesday's 2-0 League Cup quarter-final defeat by Liverpool came hot on the heels of a Premier League loss to the same club and a 5-3 defeat by Arsenal to make fans twitchy at a ground that had been a fortress for much of the Roman Abramovich era.
Jose Mourinho's job could be on the line when Chelsea host Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday and Alex Ferguson has urged the Londoners not to jettison their manager even if the result goes against them.
Fans are openly speculating that owner Roman Abramovich, a man who places notoriously high demands on his managers, could call time on Jose Mourinho's second spell at Stamford Bridge if Liverpool can inflict another defeat on the champions.
Nicolas Anelka's arrival at Chelsea in January last year hardly had the fans buzzing amid all the big-money signings since Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich transformed the fortunes of the west London club.
New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is well-trained in dealing with the whims of multi-millionaire footballers and club owners despite often coming across as shy and reserved. The 49-year-old won two Champions Leagues and a Serie A title during his eights years at AC Milan and is as qualified as anyone to take the reins at Stamford Bridge.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink said he was prepared to manage Chelsea for the rest of the season after receiving permission to combine the two jobs.
Stamford Bridge erupted in celebration on Sunday as departing Chelsea captain John Terry lifted the Premier League trophy in Antonio Conte's record-breaking first season in charge, but the carnival atmosphere had a bitter-sweet edge.
Manchester City's Abu Dhabi-controlled owner has agreed to sell a $500 million stake to US private equity firm Silver Lake, making it the world's most valuable soccer group with a $4.8 billion price tag.
Lampard was handed a three-year contract having left second tier Derby County.
Jose Mourinho thinks Chelsea's quest to win four trophies this season could play into Liverpool's hands.
Chelsea have nine 'untouchable' players but striker Andriy Shevchenko is not one of them, according to manager Jose Mourinho.
The 'Iron Man of India' has emerged a contender to buy English Premiership football club Birmingham City after making an initial inquiry, The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
Chelsea have been within touching distance but a place in Europe's showpiece club final has proved agonisingly elusive since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club.
Jose Mourinho has won a trophy every season of his top flight career and finds it "unacceptable" to contemplate finishing his comeback season with Chelsea empty handed.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said he would stay with the EPL champions if he has enough support from the club.
And he only reveals this two days after his chief executive leaves for Stamford Bridge. Fancy that.
Hopes of a swift end to Ferrari's domination look less likely than some had hoped after tyre suppliers Michelin, admitted they face a difficult time in Malaysia.
Leeds chairman Ken Bates reported Chelsea to the FA on August 2 over alleged illegal approaches to players.
Jose Mourinho expects another mixed reception in Porto when he takes Chelsea for their Champions League tie.
Chelsea recorded a pre-tax loss of 80.2 million pounds (157 US $ approximtaely) in the 2005/06 financial year
Success has been a long time coming and this title could just be the start of the Chelsea era.
Giggs suffered the injury in an aerial collision with Lille defender Tavlaridis on Tuesday.
There's more to Cristiano Ronaldo than step-overs, fancy boots and even fancier hair. He's a thinker.
The German captain joined the English champions from Bayern Munich on a free transfer.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field
The health of former All Black great Jonah Lomu, who is battling a kidney disease, has taken a turn for the worse and he is now barely able to walk.
Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at surprise league leaders Leicester City on Monday, their ninth loss in 16 league games since the start of a season that has gone spectacularly wrong, proved to be the final straw.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has denied that the club's success is purely down to the financial muscle of owner Roman Abramovich.
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