MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 21:51:05| >> :120:8342:8342:

On this day: Chelsea appoint player-manager Ruud Gullit

Nineteen years ago today, Ruud Gullit was appointed the new player-manager of Chelsea following the departure of Glenn Hoddle.

When Glenn Hoddle made it known that he was to leave Chelsea at the end of the 1995-96 season to take charge of England, rumour had it that chairman Ken Bates was eager for George Graham to fill the managerial void at Stamford Bridge.

However, in what was Hoddle's final home game in charge of the Blues against Blackburn Rovers, the home faithful made their feelings about Graham's potential arrival clear.

With his connection to London rivals Arsenal and negative style of football, the Chelsea fans had no interest in seeing the Scot manage their team.

Instead, they chanted for Ruud Gullit, who had joined the club as a player at the start of that season following a successful stint playing for AC Milan and the Dutch national side.

Ultimately, the supporters got their way, with Bates unveiling Gullit as the club's new player-manager 19 years ago today.

Despite having no previous managerial experience, Gullit got off to a positive start, coaxing the best form out of Italian playmaker Gianfranco Zola in the process.

The West Londoners finished his first season as boss in a respectable sixth place in the Premier League, but they exceeded expectations in the FA Cup by reaching the Wembley final, where they defeated Middlesbrough 2-0.

It was a maiden trophy for Chelsea in some 26 years and also saw Gullit become the first non-British manager to win a major title in England.

Yet, the good feeling would soon diminish. Rumours started to surface that Gullit's relationship with the club's board had become strained and it came as little surprise when he was sacked in February 1998.

Ironically, his job went to Gianluca Vialli - a player that Gullit had signed during his first campaign in charge.

ID:221256: cacheID:221256:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3008:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Kevin Phillips of Sunderland scores his first against Chelsea during the FA Carling Premiership match at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on December 4, 1999
Read Next:
OTD: Phillips, Quinn double act rock Chelsea
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!