Roman Abramovich has startled football fans by bringing Rafael Benitez back on stage after two years of unemployment. The former Liverpool manager now stands at the helm of Chelsea as an interim, replacing Roberto Di Matteo Wednesday.

Benitez agreed to a short-term contract with the European champions until the end of the season, almost two years after being sacked by his previous club Inter Milan.  

The Spaniard flew to London from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and will get acquainted with the squad at the club's training ground on Thursday.  

Benitez made a name at Valencia before moving to Liverpool in mid-2000s, where he won the Champions League in 2005.

The 52-year-old becomes the ninth manager under Chelsea's Russian owner, Roman Abramovich.

Earlier on Wednesday, Abramovich gave marching orders to Roberto Di Matteo only six months after the Italian led the team to victory in the Champions League final over Bayern Munich.

Tuesday's 3-0 loss to Juventus proved to be Di Matteo's final match in charge. Chelsea, who sit third both domestically and in their Champions League group, risk becoming the first Champions League holder to fail to reach the knockout stage.

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