The current Monaco manager spent four fruitful years from 2000-2004 in England with the Blues but was ultimately fired in May 2004 by club owner Roman Abramovich, who had taken ownership of the club in the previous season.

After arriving from a disastrous spell at Atletico Madrid, Ranieri turned a corner as he led Chelsea to a commendable sixth-place finish in his first season in charge. He spent big the following summer in order to push on and compete for the Champions League spots, and signed future star players like Frank Lampard and William Gallas.

However, he could not improve on the club’s sixth league position and was criticized for not improving the results of the club despite spending £30 million that summer.

The following 2002-03 season was arguably Ranieri’s best spell in charge of the Blues. With the club going through a difficult financial phase, Ranieri was not allowed to spend money and only brought in Lucas from Espanyol on a free transfer.

Even with the lack of transfers, the Italian guided Chelsea to a fourth-placed finish on the last day of the season, ensuring Champions League football for the club. The once-criticized manager was now receiving plaudits for his superlative achievement of bringing back Champions League football to the club despite being able to spend no money.

After that season concluded, Abramovich decided to buy Chelsea and the Blues have never looked back since then. Ranieri guided Chelsea to a second-place finish in his last season, and Abramovich’s first, and missed out on the top spot only to Arsenal, as the ‘Invincibles’ finished the season unbeaten to win the championship.

According to ESPN, Ranieri feels Abramovich wouldn’t have come to the club had he not finished in the Champions League places in 2002-03, and also believes he deserves some credit for the club’s decade of success since then.

He said, “Without spending a pound, I took Chelsea into the Champions League. Abramovich would not have invested in Chelsea otherwise and they would not be where they are now. Some of it is my merit.”