...AND SO CAN BEING BOSS OF THE BLUES

A TOTAL of 14 managers in just 14 years highlights the lack of job security at Chelsea. But more surprising is the speed with which managers who lead Blues to title triumphs are sacked. They really do work on quicksand at Stamford Bridge. Jose Mourinho arrived as the Special One in 2004 and won back-to-back Premier League titles in his first two seasons. The signing of Andriy Shevchenko (middle) in the summer of 2006 became a massive distraction. The Blues started to fall apart and in September 2007 the Special One was gone. Carlo Ancelotti led Chelsea to the 2010 title, his team setting a Premier League record with 103 goals. That summer they signed Fernando Torres (bottom) for £50million. The Blues finished second in the league but that wasn’t good enough and the Italian boss was sacked. Mourinho’s return in 2013 saw Chelsea finish third and then lift the title in 2015. That August he signed a new four-year deal. By December, after losing nine of out 16 league games, Mourinho left “by mutual consent.” Now we have the Antonio Conte conundrum. How long will he cling on under Roman Abramovich (top)? Last summer he was named Manager Of The Year after leading Chelsea to the title in his first campaign. Chelsea have won just two of their last 10 games. And, as Conte knows, winners become losers at Chelsea faster than anywhere else.