But of course it's his return to the Premier League that's the story here. The Spaniard spent six years at Liverpool where he won the Champions League and FA Cup. Let's not forget that he nearly ended the club's long wait for a league title when they finished second to Manchester United in 2008-09.

Benitez has been out of work for nearly two years following his dismissal at Inter Milan.

They move quickly at Stamford Bridge, don't they? He was the favourite to succeed Di Matteo and it's now been confirmed that Rafael Benitez will be the manager of Chelsea until the end of the season.

Andre Villas-Boas, who was succeeded by Di Matteo following his sacking at Stamford Bridge, has been having his say on the matter: "At Chelsea, I think another sacking is just like any other day at the office. That's my interpretation."

Former Liverpool player and manager Graeme Souness has been sharing his opinion on Di Matteo's sacking. He told Sky Sports News: "People are making the decisions at Chelsea not really understanding how football works. I don't think anyone could come in and do the job differently. Making changes doesn't work. It was four year before [Alex Ferguson] won anything and seven years before he won a league."

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata airs his view about the sacking of Di Matteo on Facebook: "It's been a difficult day. Roberto Di Matteo is no longer our manager. I would like to thank him for all this time with us and wish him the best of luck for the future. As a player he has been a legend for the 'Blues'. With him as a manager we won our first Champions League. He will always be remembered. Good luck Robbie!"

Hamann told talkSPORT: "He's a top-class manager with a fantastic track record. When you look what he's done in Spain, he's the last person to win the La Liga title from Barcelona and Real Madrid, and he won the Uefa Cup there. He had very good success at Liverpool and only the Premier League title eluded him. f you look at his record, automatically he will have the respect of his players for what he's done in the past. So, I don't see any issues there."

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes that Rafael Benitez will lead Chelsea to success if he becomes their new manager.

Burley continued: "I didn't see Roberto Di Matteo as a long-term solution and I don't see Rafael Benitez as a long-term solution either. If Abramovich is killing time until [Guardiola] is available he better make sure he's locked down because if he decides to go somewhere else he's in trouble because he's built his business model around getting this guy."

Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley gives his opinion on the matter to the BBC: "They've played some nice football and signed some cracking players but it's not about the form or recent results. There's a bigger picture and he's always been a stop gap and Roman Abramovich wants to make a change. I don't see the point in bringing in Rafael Benitez for six months before Pep Guardiola may or may not be available. I don't see the point."

It is 4.30pm now, still no word from Chelsea on who their new manager will be.

Former Chelsea striker Kerry Dixon gives his opinion on who he thinks will replace Roberto Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge. He told the BBC: "My own guess is they will continue to change until they get the right person and put Chelsea at the top of the tree and they have the financial clout to do it. There's no guarantee Pep Guardiola could repeat what he did at Barcelona at Chelsea. It's a totally different challenge. The man that's made it all happen is the man that's hired and fired the managers and given Chelsea the opportunity to compete and the supporters the opportunity to watch world class players."

According to BBC Sport, Rafael Benitez is flying to London from Abu Dhabi at the moment to hold talks with Chelsea.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers sympathises with Roberto Di Matteo: "It's disappointing. Obviously whenever you're in the position as a manager you know it's an extremely tough business, so you're always looking out for other managers as well because you know the pressures that you face, in particular at the big clubs where that demand for success is incredible. I felt for Robbie. He went in there and he's done a brilliant job. It's incredible really that you can win the Champions League and win a domestic cup competition and yet find yourself being out of a job."

Here is our feature on what the Chelsea fans have to say about the sacking of Di Matteo. Read it here.

As we wait on Chelsea’s announcement on who their new manager will be, why not look at some of the features we have done on the London club on Sports Mole this afternoon? Here is the first one on owner Roman Abramovich and his record of hiring and firing managers here.

Dixon continued: "The instant reaction was feeling sorry for Robbie. He was a great player for the club and the first manager to lift the Champions League for the club and won the FA cup in his first year. It's a shame for him really. The club is in transition, trying to play a more attractive style with younger, more dynamic, players but it's going to take time and Robbie wasn't going to be given that time if results didn't go his way and the last five results were poor ones."

Former Chelsea striker Kerry Dixon has told the BBC that he is “surprised” at the dismissal of Di Matteo: "Surprised yes, I feel sorry for Robbie but bear in mind what's gone before and no-one knows what his brief is and Champions League qualification would have been high on the agenda and that's looking unlucky Robbie has paid the price for that.”

Now Joey Barton gives his opinion on the Di Matteo sacking. He wrote on Twitter: "Is everyone really that surprised by Chelsea-ovich getting rid of their latest plaything? It's football after all. If it's not broken, fix it."

Former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair has told BBC Sport that he is "shocked and disappointed" by the club’s decision to sack Roberto Di Matteo as their manager.

According to Sky News Arabia station editor Ali El Garni, Rafael Benitez has travelled to an airport near the station to fly back to England.

BREAKING NEWS Rafael Benitez is reportedly on his way back to the UK from the Middle East to conduct talks with Chelsea.

Elliott told BBC Sport: "Results and performances haven't been to the level of a club of this magnitude. Abramovich has always been good for Chelsea and will continue to be."

More reactions on the Di Matteo sacking now. Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott has actually backed Roman Abramovich's decision to sack Roberto Di Matteo as manager.

Roberts added: "He (Guardiola) is having a year off and has probably got another six months to recharge his batteries. I can see Harry Redknapp coming in on a short term basis and being paid very well to do that. Whoever takes it now, it will be on a short term contract."

Former Chelsea player Graham Roberts believes that Roman Abramovich wants to appoint Pep Guardiola as his long-term manager. He told the BBC: "I didn't think he (Roberto Di Matteo) was going to survive. Guardiola, that's who they want. The question is who is going to take over until Guardiola comes?”

According to BBC Sport, Di Matteo was given his marching orders by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck and CEO Ron Gourlay at the training ground in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon on Di Matteo sacking on Twitter: "Shows how precarious a manager’s job is. R di Matteo wins CL for 1st time in Chelsea history. 6 months later sacked..go figure."

It's a quarter to 2 pm, and still no word from Chelsea on who their new manager will be.

Taylor said: "It must be a record, and not a good one. It just shows that patience now seems a rare commodity at some clubs and that is a shame because the record of other successful clubs shows that stability can breed success. I am sure that it will not be long before another club recognises Roberto's qualities, and that he will soon be back in football."

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor does not back Chelsea’s decision to sack Roberto Di Matteo. He said: "I know Roberto well and he is a good man so this is sad news. It's also quite incredible that he can be sacked so soon after winning the Champions League - and the FA Cup for good measure.”

Trizia Fiorellino, chair of Chelsea Supporters Group, believes that top managers may not be interested in becoming the Blues manager in the long run. She told BBC Sport: "Obviously the money will attract managers. However, if you're given the choice between two big clubs and one of them is Chelsea who have the propensity to sack managers at the drop of a hat, which one are you going to choose?"

Johnstone added: "The board have got to learn that you've got to give managers time. Chelsea wouldn't be in the position they are in without Mr Abramovich, he's been fantastic for us. But the board of directors who work for him have to stand up for themselves, they have to stand up for the supporters and give him some better advice."

David Johnstone, spokesman for Chelsea fanzine cfcuk, says that he is “very disappointed” at the sacking of Di Matteo. He told BBC Sport: "I'm very disappointed for Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton, I think they've been fantastic for Chelsea. But I'm not shocked. We know what the board of directors are like, they've done it before and they'll probably do it again.”

Roebuck continued: “Given the performance Di Matteo has delivered and the chance a ‘bad patch’ was always on the cards, a more tolerant approach would have made common sense. This unplanned departure now leaves the club rudderless at a critical time and presents a significant challenge in finding a new successor. Who would accept such a role with the chance of being sacked in the middle of the night? This event just goes to confirm the significant dangers of command and control leadership.”

Commenting on Chelsea’s sacking of Roberto Di Matteo, Visiting Professor Chris Roebuck, a leadership expert at Cass Business School in London, said: “The overnight sacking of Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo demonstrates, not decisive leadership, but knee jerk authoritarianism. From a leadership perspective, this sacking is highly questionable. Yes, in the world of football, as in business, sometimes things don't go the way we want, but a short-term view of life can end up being counterproductive to both long-term performance and revenue generation.”

More from Gullit on Di Matteo’s exit: "I already had a very good feeling that when Robbie won the Champions League that maybe they (the Chelsea board) already had somebody else in the frame to take over. I don't think they took any notice of the fact that Robbie could win it. That was the reason I believe that they took so long to sign Robbie because they were looking for other people. I always had the feeling that (Jose) Mourinho was in the frame all the time - for the simple reason that he signed just after Chelsea won the Champions League. He signed his contract with Real Madrid and for me that is no coincidence."

Gullit added: "I can't believe they have just sacked him out of the blue and then they'll be thinking about who is going to be the next one. I don't think so. I think they have already in mind who is going to be the next one. It could of course be Mourinho, if it happens, I don't know because it is in the middle of the season."

Gullit told Sky Sports News: "I can't believe that Chelsea just sacked him without knowing who is going to be the next one. I will be curious to see what they do in the next couple of days.”

Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit is disappointed with the dismissal of Di Matteo as the Blues boss and is “curious” to see who replaces him.

Bond said: "The board are in talks now. The appointment is likely to be a ‘stop-gap’, not a long-term replacement. Compensation for Di Matteo is still being worked out but the guidance is that he is likely to continue to be paid until he finds a new post elsewhere. He had a two-year contract and while there was no break clause, there is an option in there for either party if things don't work out to walk away."

Chelsea did not mention when they will announce their new manager. However, BBC Sports Editor David Bond has said that the club could make a decision later on Wednesday.

This is getting very interesting now. With Rafael Benitez reportedly due to fly back to the UK tonight, Chelsea fans are pretty much against his appointment. Will club owner Roman Roman Abramovich listen to the supporters this time?

Fiorellino continued: "I personally didn't agree with Roberto Di Matteo becoming manager. However, they gave him the job so they should've given him at least a year. We are bedding in new players, a new style of play. 11 managers in 8 years is not ideal. We want longevity, we want trophies, we want success like anybody but this is making us look a bit of a laughing stock."

Chelsea Supporters Group chair Trizia Fiorellino says that she is in “utter shock” at the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo. She told BBC Sport: "I'm in utter shock to be perfectly honest. I expected them to give him a little longer, especially given the amount of injuries we've had, refereeing decisions, the fact we haven't had another striker. I just think it's a mad decision at a mad time.”

Di Matteo lasted 262 days at Chelsea. Andre Villas-Boas managed 256 days, Avram Grant 247 and Luiz Felipe Scolari just 223.

Some more interesting stats for you. Jose Mourinho's win %age as Chelsea manager was 67%. Roberto Di Matteo's was 62%.

Meanwhile, according to BBC Sport, Harry Redknapp has said that he has not been contacted by Chelsea and offered the managerial job.

More opposition from Chelsea fans against the appointment of Rafa Benitez as the team’s manager. David Johnstone, spokesman for Chelsea fanzine cfcuk, told BBC Sport: "Rafa Benitez is not a Chelsea manager. Some people are born to play for or manage certain clubs and for us, Benitez isn't what we want. “When he was Liverpool manager and Jose Mourinho was Chelsea manager, there was a bit of 'beef' between them. He's very dismissive of Chelsea, very rude towards us and my impression of him was, whenever anything went wrong it was always somebody else's fault, not his."

Meanwhile, former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has asked for permission from FIFA to go out on loan this season. So is he thinking of playing for Chelsea again for a short while? The Chinese Super League season ended recently and the Shanghai Shenhua forward has been training with the Blues.

However, Benitez will struggle to be accepted by the Chelsea fans. Chelsea Supporters Group Chair Trizia Fiorellina told BBC Sport: "Benitez will just not be accepted by Chelsea supporters, neither will Avram Grant or Harry Redknapp. I simply don't think Benitez is a good manager. He's been out of work for two years now, if he was any good why hasn't any club snapped him up?"

Benitez told Sport 360: "I have just found out [about Di Matteo]. Obviously Chelsea is a top side and they can compete for trophies so it goes in this category. In football a lot of people are talking so we will see what happens in the next few days. I am looking for a club that can challenge for trophies and Chelsea is one of these clubs." Benitez is currently in Abu Dhabi and is reportedly due to fly to the UK tonight.

BREAKING NEWS: Rafael Benitez has revealed that he is open to becoming the new Chelsea manager.

Redknapp told BBC Sport: "It is interesting. It is an exciting country with some good young players and some great teams and I am serious about it.”

One can rule out Harry Redknapp from that list of candidates it seems. The former Tottenham Hotspur manager has been offered the chance to be the new Ukraine coach, and he is giving serious thought to accepting it.

In the wake of the vacancy at Stamford Bridge, a number of candidates have been mentioned as possible successors to Roberto Di Matteo as the Chelsea manager. In this analytical piece here, Sports Mole’s Danielle Joynson takes a look at those candidates.

Here is something interesting. Andre Villas-Boas was sacked as the Chelsea manager in March this year after a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion. Di Matteo’s last Premier League game as the Blues boss was against the Baggies too. And it ended in a defeat.

England batsman and Chelsea fan, Kevin Pietersen, who is currently on tour in India, tweeted: “With today's shocking news, I am sampling this footie school in Mumbai now.. #whyRomanwhy ??”

Rugby Union player Ryan Lamb too criticises Chelsea. He tweeted: “Sack Di Matteo, the most honourable man to come out of Chelsea, but keep John Terry and Ashley Cole. #sumsthatclubup.”

Sky News Sunrise and ITV This Morning Eamonn Holmes slams Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for his lack of patience: “The problem at Chelsea is not the Manager - it seems more like the owner!”

Meanwhile, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand appears to take a sly dig at Chelsea: "The stability at our club is something our manager rarely gets praise for. Don’t underestimate that."

Michael Vaughan tweets: “Ridiculous decision from Chelsea. RDM wins the trophy they have been chasing for years and now gets the boots.”

Franny Lee believes that Di Matteo’s sacking proves that a football manager’s job is “fragile”: “Di Matteo sacked, very harsh decision! Shows how fragile a managers job can be.”

John Hartson puts forward another name for the Chelsea post: “Mark Hughes for the Chelsea job!!!!!!! If Mark Hughes got the Chelsea job, I think my hair would start growing back!!!!"

Meanwhile, former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour teeted: “Redknapp for Chelsea?”

Former England cricket captain and lifelong Chelsea fan Alec Stewart believes that Chelsea’s dismissal is a “joke”. He wrote on Twitter: “Joke decision to sack DiMatteo. Wins Champs Lge & FA Cup. Currently 3rd in league. Need stability for sustained success.”

More reactions coming in on Di Matteo’s sacking. Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie wrote on Twitter: “'Sad to hear Di Matteo has gone. Ironically, for a stop-gap, he is the only manager to satisfy Abramovich's dream. What next? #cfc'”

Balague told Sky Sports News: "Rafa Benitez is in Abu Dhabi. He was doing a talk this morning when the news broke about Roberto Di Matteo. I've got a clear idea that if Rafa Benitez gets approached again, and I believe that is a real possibility, then he will probably accept it or at least he will be listening with opening ears. They talked three times last season. In any case they didn't reach a point of agreement. Maybe the conclusion will be different on this occasion."

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes that if Rafa Benitez is approached again by Chelsea, he will take the offer.

Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit, who signed Di Matteo for the London club in 1996, wrote on Twitter: 'OMG just found out that #robbiedimatteo has been sacked. That hurts me.”

Some stats for you now: Roberto Di Matteo took charge of just 23 Premier League games for Chelsea. Only David Webb and Guus Hiddink managed fewer (both 13).

Of course, we must treat Calderon’s words cautiously. He left Madrid under a cloud and is not very popular among the Madrid fans or the current hierarchy. In addition to that, what he says about Mourinho leaving Madrid is only his personal opinion.

Ramon Calderon told the BBC: "I think he has already decided to leave. That's my opinion and I'm not certain about that. He's a bit fed up with what's happening here and some people are fed up with his attitude and his behaviour. It is my opinion that he will leave at the end of this season."

Could Chelsea bring back Jose Mourinho? The Portuguese coach is popular among the fans, but he will not leave Real Madrid before the end of the season. However, if you believe former Madrid president Ramon Calderon, then Mourinho will quit Madrid next summer.

So will Chelsea appoint Rafa Benitez for the rest of the season and then give the job to Guardiola?

Graham Hunter adds that Rafa Benitez could take over at Chelsea. He told Sky Sports News: "My opinion and information, relatively strong. He is somebody who is known to have an interesting effect on players. He's someone who Fernando Torres, one of the principal under-performing assets at the club, has said taught him, changed him, moulded him, made him a better striker when he came to Liverpool. Benitez is available and would take the job if the terms were right. It's been mooted around the training ground for a few days now that it's a strong possibility that Rafa Benitez is next. He's well-established as the leading horse."

That is very, very interesting indeed. So will we see Chelsea appoint someone for the rest of the season and then bring Guardiola?

Barcelona-based football journalist Graham Hunter too dismisses talks of Pep Guardiola taking charge of Chelsea. He told Sky Sports News: "He's in New York for a reason, it isn't a holiday. He's there to take time out, to plan his next move, to give his kids an American schooling, to help his whole family learn English, to prepare for his move towards England. Let's be frank, when he left Barcelona, he thought very hard about the offer to take over from Roberto Di Matteo. Guardiola has had a handful of approaches and offers from Chelsea, with Roman Abramovich trying to sculpt different ways to approach him. The intention to get Guardiola is long-standing and right now, Guardiola has said that he's going to take the full year out."

And speaking of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, it seems that he has ruled out moving to London and taking charge of Chelsea before next summer. The Catalan is currently on a one-year sabbatical in New York, and does not plan to return to football management before the end of the current season.

Former England international Gary Lineker is surprised by Chelsea’s decision as well: "Take over in spring, win FA Cup, win Champions League, lie third and very much in contention in Premier League after finishing sixth last season. Next?? I've no idea who he'll appoint now. Guess he'll try for Mourinho or Guardiola in summer with temporary boss like Avram Grant until then."

Sunderland striker Louis Saha too seems taken aback by the sacking of Di Matteo. He wrote on Twitter: "Can't believe Roberto Di Matteo has been sack after such a good record. Especially when I think he had to cope with Terry scandal."

Former Valencia, Liverpool and Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez is said to be a strong candidate to replace Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard is the bookmakers' favourite, but it is being said that he will be appointed only on a temporary basis.

Pardew adds that the dismissal of Di Matteo shows how tough life can be for football managers these days: "It's astonishing really. It just goes to show you how precarious we are as Premier League managers. We can't take anything for granted."

Meanwhile, Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says that Di Matteo did not deserve to get sacked: "As far as I'm concerned he's done absolutely nothing wrong. The philosophy was to perhaps change the look of the team which he's tried to do and that doesn't happen overnight. He's won two competitions in less than a year so it's unbelievable."

Reactions to Di Matteo’s sacking have already started to filter in. Here is Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand airing his view on Twitter: "Wow, Chelsea have sacked their manager!! I'm a bit late I know but its a madness."

Here is the statement in full from Chelsea on the sacking of Di Matteo: ”The team's recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season. The club faces a difficult task ahead in qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as well as maintaining a strong challenge for the top of the Premier League while competing in three other cup competitions. Our aim is to remain as competitive as possible and challenge strongly on all fronts. The owner (Roman Abramovich) and the board would like to thank Roberto for all he has done for the club since taking over in March. Roberto helped guide us to an historic Champions League victory and a seventh FA Cup. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to this club's history and he will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge. The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager."

Of course, it was not just the defeat in Italy that cost Di Matteo his job. Chelsea have struggled in the Premier League in recent weeks as well. Having started their league campaign impressively, the London club now find themselves third in the table, four points behind leaders Manchester City.

The decision comes just a day after Chelsea lost 3-0 to Juventus in Turin in their Champions League Group E clash. The defeat means that the reigning European champions are now third in the group and could fail to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Roberto Di Matteo sacking story. Just over an hour ago, Chelsea announced that they have dismissed the Italian of his duties as the club’s manager.