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After Roman Abramovich bought over the club back in 2003, Sven-Goran Eriksson was the major candidate he intended to take over from Claudio Ranieri as Chelsea manager.

However, Eriksson was managing the England national side at the time Chelsea approached, and ended up missing the opportunity to coach Chelsea.

He has now explained the reason why he turned down Chelsea.

“I had the offer. I had the contract in front of me,” Eriksson said.

“And I think I signed it as well. No, maybe not. I don’t remember.

“The day after it was out in all the newspapers in England. And I was at that time the manager of England.

“So I had to say ‘no, I can’t do it because the people would have killed me’.

“When you’re the manager of England you never say ‘I will quit’ because then you’re a traitor. You have to sit down there and wait until they sack you.”