LONDON (AP) - An opportunity to lead one of the wealthiest soccer clubs in the world has opened. However, failure to win trophies will not be tolerated.
Chelsea is on the lookout for a new manager after firing Avram Grant on Saturday, three days after the Blues lost the Champions League final to Manchester United on penalty kicks in Moscow.
Grant replaced the popular Jose Mourinho eight months ago and defied skeptics by taking the club to the final of the League Cup and Champions League. But Chelsea lost both finals, which each went to extra time, and finished just two points behind champion Man United in the Premier League title race.
That was enough for Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who had brought Grant to the club as director of soccer in July 2007 before promoting him to manager two months later.
"I took on the job at a very difficult time, but Chelsea have pulled the plug on me," Grant was quoted as saying in Sunday's editions of the News of the World. "I feel very hurt, upset and angry."
The biggest coaching names in the world are being mentioned as his replacement. They include former Italy coach Marcello Lippi, outgoing FC Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard, Inter Milan's Roberto Mancini, Russia's Guus Hiddink, Manchester City's Sven-Goran Eriksson, Portugal's Luis Felipe Scolari and Blackburn's Mark Hughes, who played for Chelsea.
Even Mourinho is reportedly back in the frame, despite leaving after falling out with Abramovich.
Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle said whoever took over would have to be able to deal with the hands-on style of Abramovich.
"It's different than managing any other club," said Hoddle, who led Chelsea from 1993-96. "You can understand if someone is putting that amount of finances into a club, he wants a say. I think this is where football and business really are different.
"Whoever they go for will be high profile and for me, whoever comes in, you know the wicket is going to be a sticky wicket if you want (to make) every single decision."
Abramovich will be able to check out what the supporters want from a phone-in on the club's in-house television station on Monday night.
Chelsea said on its Web site that it will screen a program to look at Grant's time at the club and the phone-in "will give fans a chance to speak on who and what kind of manager you want to replace him."
Meanwhile, Grant has reportedly been lined up to take over at Manchester City. Eriksson is still in charge, but owner Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to end his contract before the start of next season.
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