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.
Liam Apicella
