Chelsea are searching for a new manager after they decided to call time on Roberto Di Matteo's career at Stamford Bridge.

The 42-year-old was dismissed from his role with the Premier League outfit after nine months in charge, which included victory in the FA Cup final and clinching the Champions League trophy for the first time in the club's history.

Di Matteo's term came to an end when it became clear that the Blues faced an uphill struggle to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League following their 3-0 defeat to Juventus last night.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the candidates in the running to take over at the Bridge.

Rafael Benitez
Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has emerged as the bookmakers' favourite to take the reins at the West London club following Di Matteo's dismissal. The Spaniard has been out of work since getting sacked from Inter Milan in 2010 and reports have claimed that the ex-Liverpool coach was approached by the Blues last summer over taking the role on a temporary basis. The 52-year-old is believed to have turned down the chance to take over at Stamford Bridge because he was eyeing a permanent role. Despite previously rejecting the job, Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that Benitez could be open to taking the role if he is approached once again by the English club.

Pep Guardiola
Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has been rumoured to be a top target for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is thought to have already spoken to the Spaniard after taking the decision to axe Di Matteo this morning. While Guardiola has not ruled out a move to Stamford Bridge in the future, it is understood that he has no plans to cut short his year's sabbatical, which he has been spending in New York with his family.

Avram Grant
Avram Grant spent one season at Chelsea in 2007, when he led the team to the League Cup final and the Champions League final but failed to win either game, which later contributed to his dismissal from the club. The 57-year-old later experienced stints at Portsmouth, West Ham United and Partizan Belgrade but has been out of work since the summer. The Blues announced that they will be making a decision regarding the first-team coach shortly, which indicates that the club are keen on appointing an interim boss, which could suit Grant.

Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp has been open about his desire to get back into management following his axe from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. The 65-year-old recently revealed that he has turned down offers from clubs since he became available and has stated that he will be ready to coach again when the right offer comes along. Redknapp has Premier League experience and will have a knowledge of the players within the Blues team, which could work in his favour.

Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink has been touted as a possible candidate for the Blues job. The 66-year-old had a brief stint at Stamford Bridge when he took over in 2009 on a caretaker basis and the prospect of returning to the Premier League outfit could be appealing to the Dutchman. However, Hiddink is currently the boss of Russian big-money spenders Anzhi Makhachkala, which could force Chelsea into paying out large sums to clinch the coach.

Jose Mourinho
While it is an unlikely option, Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been linked with a return to the Bridge. The Portuguese coach, who is currently in England for a Champions League battle against Manchester City, is believed to have repaired his relationship with owner Abramovich. Despite resolving their issues, reports have claimed that Mourinho is unlikely to leave Madrid midway through the season but it has been suggested that the self-proclaimed 'Special One' is open to departing the Bernabeu in the summer.