Carlo Ancelotti’s Reign Ended On May 8, 4.11pm

The Chelsea boss was a goner as soon as Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez scored in the do-or-die title decider after just 37 seconds.

United went on to win 2-1 to clinch an historic 19th league title and condemn Chelsea to a season without silverware.

That was the final straw for ruthless Russian owner Roman Abramovich, who is now seeking his seventh manager in eight years at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti bowed out with a whimper, losing 1-0 at Everton in his final game, with news of his departure following swiftly after the final whistle.

And the announcement came so quickly it was simply confirming the inevitable. That Ancelotti had been a dead man walking since that United defeat – just as SunSport had exclusively predicted the day before the fateful Old Trafford showdown.

The one thing that Chelsea have managed to keep secret is who will succeed the Italian.

Guus Hiddink is the favourite as he is close to Abramovich, plays the sexy football that the Russian craves and had a successful caretaker spell in charge, winning the FA Cup in 2008 after succeeding Luis Felipe Scolari midway through the season.

He is currently boss of Turkey but the billions of Abramovich could quickly solve that problem.

One scenario has Hiddink as general manager alongside Jose Mourinho clone Andre Villas-Boas of Porto.

Villas-Boas worked with the Special One at Stamford Bridge before making a name for himself in his own right with a stunning season with the Portuguese champions.

Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola is in the frame even though he has just signed a new contract at the Nou Camp.

Former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard and another Dutch legend Marco van Basten are also contenders for the Chelsea hotseat.

The one home-grown candidate is Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp after two superb seasons at White Hart Lane playing the sort of flamboyant, attacking football that Abramovich so desperately wants.

Redknapp is on £3million-a-year at Spurs but could expect £5m plus bonuses if he were willing to switch from north to west London.

Chelsea have been busy in recent weeks trying to attract new coaches to work with any new boss.

Blues legend Gianfranco Zola has been contacted and looks poised to make a dramatic return.

But Steve Clarke has already snubbed a return to the Bridge.

He opted to sign a three-year deal to work alongside Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool despite being offered more cash to go to Chelsea.