Like all Chelsea managers, Rafa Benitez was a dead man walking from day one.
Of the previous eight during the Abramovich era, only Guus Hiddink wasn't fired, but the Dutchman was on loan from the Russian Football Federation for three months. Even the trigger-happy Abramovich would have struggled to fire a loanee.
While the sack is an occupational hazard on Planet Football, Abramovich has made it an ignominious art form. If he appointed himself as manager, he would probably sack himself after two months in the wake of eight consecutive wins.