Guus Hiddink's exit from Chelsea and the likely appointment of Carlo Ancelotti this week means that the London club will be welcoming its fifth manager in less than two years.
Hiddink completed his three-month sojourn by guiding Chelsea to a first trophy in two years with a 2-1 victory over Everton in Saturday's FA Cup final but said to consistently challenge for domestic and European honors the side had to settle down.
"They've had too many changes and they recognize that themselves," Hiddink said after the Wembley win, secured through goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard after Louis Saha had given Everton the lead after just 30 seconds.
"Stability is needed now. You need a short-term strategy and a long-term strategy to build a team."
The Blues had that under Jose Mourinho but after his surprise departure in September 2007, the stability and the trophies dried up. Avram Grant took them to within a missed John Terry penalty of Champions League glory in Moscow and also to an English Premier League runners-up spot but was sent packing within days of his Russian retreat.
Owner Roman Abramovich's desperate need for an "identity" for his English plaything then led to the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari, but the Brazilian World Cup winner was gone by February.
Abramovich then secured a share of the services of Hiddink but for all the Chelsea players' pleadings, the Dutchman now returns to his role of Russia coach.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily June 1, 2009)
