£93m since 2004: Total compensation paid out to sacked managers by Roman Abramovich

When it comes to ruthless owners in football, there aren't too many that are like Chelsea's Roman Abramovich. Since arriving in West London back in 2004, the Russian billionaire has transformed the culture at the club.

The Blues are now one of England's and Europe's dominant forces, winning 5x Premier League titles along with the Champions League and Europa League over the last 15 years among several other pieces of silverware.

No one can argue with the success that they've achieved since he bought the club but it's the way that its happened that really grabs headlines. He sacks managers for underperforming like any other owner would but he's also done it pretty much straight after they've won trophies, as the likes of Rafa Benitez, Roberto Di Matteo and most recently Antonio Conte have found out.

The latter made headlines this week by winning his court case with the Blues which goes back to his sacking almost twelve months ago. The Italian lost his job despite guiding Chelsea to the Premier League title and FA Cup in his two seasons in charge, ultimately being replaced by Maurizio Sarri who could well find himself at the job centre very soon.

Roman Abramovich was ordered to pay Conte a massive £9m in compensation after sacking him last year, a saga that seems to have dragged on forever. The disagreement over his settlement led to it being taken to an arbitration tribunal and with it ruling in the former Blues boss' favour, it now means that Abramovich has had to fork out a massive £93m in compensation to former managers since taking over.

Below, we've taken a look at some of those who've had to face the wrath of the Russian over the years. No manager wants to lose their job but we're sure the compensation has helped out slightly...

The first manager to be thrown on the scrapheap. The likeable Italian was in charge of the Blues when Abramovich first bought the club and it seemed inevitable that he'd soon be moved on and replaced with a big name. Winning 107 of his 199 games in charge at Stamford Bridge, the Tinkerman did a decent job at the Bridge and he's held in high regard still by their supporters.

Compensation paid: £6m

The biggest amount on the list and the most controversial at the time. Jose Mourinho was the man who first brought success to Chelsea and their supporters were devastated when Abramovich gave him his marching orders. He won six pieces of silverware in three seasons in his first spell at the club but it wasn't enough to save him after a poor start to the 2007/08 campaign.

Compensation paid: £23.1m (includes backroom staff)

Brought in a surprise replacement for the sacked Mourinho, no one knew who Avram Grant was when he was appointed as Chelsea boss or how the hell he got the role in the first place. The unknown Israeli had the unenviable task of trying to win the disgruntled players and fans over who were still reeling from the departure of his predecessor and he could perhaps find himself unlucky to be out of work, after ending the season a penalty away from guiding Chelsea to their first ever Premier League title.

Compensation paid: £5.2m

Grant was unlucky to lose his job but he clearly wasn't a big enough name to lead Abramovich's team, so the Russian decide to take action by bringing in 'Big Phil'. The Brazilian arrived as a newcomer to the Premier League and he tried to get Chelsea to show their Samba side by bringing in Portugal legend Deco and implementing a new style of football at Stamford Bridge. It didn't take off. He lasted just seven months in the job as the Blues finished seven points behind Manchester United in the title race.

Compensation paid: £12.6m

In 2009 another big name arrived in London, with Carlo Ancelotti coming in as the new manager. The Italian had a massive reputation and he delivered instantly, guiding the Blues to a league & cup double in his first season. But a trophy-less second season which saw Chelsea finish second and 9 points behind eventual winners Manchester United was enough for Abramovich to get rid. It still seems like one of the harshest decisions that he's made & the Italian has since gone onto achieve success pretty much everywhere he's been.

Compensation paid: £6m

Fresh from dominating in Portugal with FC Porto, Chelsea thought they had found the reincarnation of Jose Mourinho when they appointed Andre Villas-Boas back in 2011. But in reality they appointed a manager who had the Blues fighting for a top four finish rather than silverware. He lasted just nine months in the job and was paid out a massive £12m for his efforts. Not bad.

Compensation paid: £12m

Another one of the more bizarre decisions but it strangely didn't come as too much of a surprise. Roberto Di Matteo picked up the pieces from the shambolic AVB era and guided Chelsea to The FA Cup and a maiden Champions League title. Against all odds they overcame the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich to lift the trophy for the first time but a slow start to the 2012/13 campaign meant that he was sacked. He's still held in the highest of regard by Chelsea fans and he'll always be a legend to them.

Compensation paid: £10.7m

The second coming of Jose Mourinho to Chelsea brought success once again, but just like the first time it once again ended in tears. Fresh from a double winning season the Blues went onto lose 9 of their opening 16 Premier League games, making the worst start to a title defence by any Champion in the competitions history. He departed with them just a point above the drop zone but Chelsea fans were slightly more understanding this time around.

Compensation paid: £8.3m (including backroom staff)

AND finally. A sacking everyone saw coming, despite two seasons of success. Antonio Conte guided Chelsea to a record breaking Premier League win after accumulating 30 wins and 95 points (since broken by Manchester City & Liverpool) in 2016/17, followed up by The FA Cup the following season. But again this wasn't good enough, mainly influenced by Conte's discontent with how the club was ran and a fifth placed finish. He was sacked and eventually came out with a healthy £9m in compensation.

Compensation paid: £9m