Barely hours after the end of the 2010-11 Premiership season, Carlo Ancelotti became the sixth Chelsea manager in eight years to be sacked after he failed to meet the high-demanding, ridiculously so at times, nature of Roman Abramovich's Chelsea dictatorship.

A Premierhsip and FA Cup double in his very first season in charge failed to buy him time as a trophyless second year exhausted the Russian's patience.

It leaves much food for thought as Abramovich will find it increasingly difficult to get a manager willing to ignore constant interferences from the owner and deliver a tropghy.

However, though they may well be rumors, Abramovich does have a few options -

1. Guus Hiddink - The current Turkey coach managed to steer Chelsea to an FA Cup title a little over two years back after taking over, temporarily, from the sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari in January. He was known to have connected well with the players and the fact that he is close to Abramovich could see him at Chelsea's helm come next season. However, rumors have it that Hiddink will assume a directors role, while aiding the next manager.

2. Andre Villas-Boas - The 'new Jose Mourinho' as he is nicknamed, Villas-Boas has emulated Mourinho by winning the Europa League and the Portoguese title. Even more impressive is the fact that he did it in his first season at the club. Though short on experience, Villas-Boas is highly rated and could be the answer to Chelsea's problems. He has a 15m buy-out clause in his contract at Porto, which Abramovich could trigger. However, he has insisted that he is happy at Porto.

3. Marco Van Basten - A manager with strong principles, Van Basten has been a luke-warm favorite in the betting markets, and he could put an end to the reported cases of player power at Stamford Bridge. Rumours went wild though and some said Hiddink would head a team including Van Basten and former Chelsea player Gianfranco Zola in the management.

4. Harry Redknapp - The current Spurs manager showed this season that he had what it takes to perform at Europe's highest level and the fast-paced attacking football displayed by the Spurs side this season entertained many. However, it remains a long-shot and Abramovich will be looking at someone with titles, Champions League ones, to show.

5. Frank Rijkaard - Guardiola's predecessor at Barcelona, Rijkaard and former-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had famous battles in the Champions League. Rijkaard went on to win the elite trophy in 2006 and has the titles to back him if Chelsea are to consider his appointment. However, he departed Barcelona after two successive trophy-less seasons and has only a Turkish Cup, won with Galatasaray, to boast since 2006.

Other names linked are Pep Guardiola, David Moyes and Marcelo Lippi. Rumors speak of a magnificent and improbable comeback for Jose Mourinho, though if it does happen, it could result it another tsunami.