On This Day – 12th February
It was on this day in 1998 that Chelsea and Ruud Gullit parted company. Chelsea chairman Ken Bates had decided to fire Gullit from his role as manager, a decision that was rather surprising.
At the time, Gullit had guided Chelsea to second in the Premier League and the Quarter Final of the Coca Cola Cup and European Cup Winners Cup. The Dutchman claimed that he had learned of his dismissal when reading about it on teletext!
Bates told the press that Gullit was making unreasonable wage demands, but much later stated that he didn’t like the manager because of his ‘arrogance’. Whatever the reason behind the sacking, it seemed very unfair because of Chelsea’s current form. Gullit had won the FA Cup the previous season, his first as manager at Stamford Bridge.
Striker Gianluca Vialli took over as manager and won the Coca Cola Cup and European Cup Winners Cup. The club finished fourth in the table.
Gullit joined Newcastle United six months later. He took the club to the FA Cup Final in his first season in charge but left a year later.
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