Brendan Rodgers has catapulted from candidate for the Aston Villa manager's job to possible stand-in for his former mentor Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

Carnlough man Rodgers is in the frame as the Premier League champions look for a stopgap manager to take charge, with owner Roman Abramovich running out of patience with Mourinho's failure to halt the worst run by a defending title winning team.

Rodgers' stock remains high at Chelsea where he served as youth and reserve team manager in Mourinho's first reign at Stamford Bridge.

That has led to his odds of becoming the next Chelsea boss slashed from 20/1 to just 7/1. Since his sacking by Liverpool earlier this month, Rodgers has also been linked with Aston Villa, but an interim role at Chelsea could be a more likely option, favourable to both parties.

Chelsea are in the Premiership bottom six and Tuesday's Capital One Cup exit at Stoke added to the pressure on Mourinho.

The Portuguese manager will be fighting to save his job if his team are beaten in their next Premier League game, at home against Liverpool on Sunday.

The biggest question for Abramovich would be who could take over immediately from Mourinho, with realistic caretaker options limited, as he pursues new No1 target Diego Simeone, under contract at Atletico Madrid until the summer, shifting the focus onto Rodgers.

Chelsea have a rich history of appointing interim managers who have gone on to produce success, most notably Roberto di Matteo, winner of the Champions League and FA Cup in 2012, Guus Hiddinck (2009 FA Cup) and Rafa Benitez (Europa League 2013).

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The Chelsea squad during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (L) and Chelsea's English defender John Terry hold the Premier league trophy as they take part in an open top bus parade along Kings Road in London to celebrate winning the league on May 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea football club players take part in an open-top bus parade through Fulham, south-west London on May 25, 2015 to celebrate winning the Premier League title and the Capital One cup. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (C) waves to supporters as the Chelsea team leave Stamford Bridge stadium in an open-top bus parade to celebrate winning the premier league in west London on May 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (C) stands with the Premier league trophy as they leave Stamford Bridge stadium to take part in an open-top bus parade to celebrate winning the league in west London on May 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images (L-R) Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba holds up the Premier league trophy as Chelsea's English defender John Terry holds up the League cup while Chelsea's English defender Gary Cahill and Chelsea's Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic cheer as they take part in an open-top bus parade to celebrate winning the league in west London on May 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (L) holds up the Premier league trophy as Chelsea's English defender John Terry holds up the League cup as they leave Stamford Bridge stadium to take part in an open-top bus parade to celebrate winning the league in west London on May 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba holds up the Premier league trophy as they leave Stamford Bridge stadium to take part in an open-top bus parade to celebrate winning the league in west London on May 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA The Chelsea squad during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA Chelsea's Didier Drogba (left) and Cesc Fabregas with the trophy during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA A Chelsea fan ontop of traffic lights during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA A Chelsea fan ontop of traffic lights during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA A young Chelsea fan sits on a phone box during a parade to celebrate Chelsea winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA A young Chelsea fan sits on a phone box during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA The Chelsea squad during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA The Chelsea squad during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA Chelsea's Petr Cech during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA Chelsea's Diego Costa during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA Chelsea's Didier Drogba (left) and Cesc Fabregas during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA A young Chelsea fan sits on a phone box during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA A young Chelsea fan sits on a phone box during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Chelsea squad during a parade to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Jose Mourinho's best moments: Would you like me to lapdance for you? Jose Mourinho made an appearance on Italian television show Chiambretti Night, shortly after his move to Italy. As England manager Fabio Capello once found out, part of the show involves a private dance from a scantily clad woman. Mourinho appeared to find it difficult to stay awake for the performance. <b>Mourinho announces his arrival</b><br /> Mourinho's first press conference in England, staged to announce his appointment as Chelsea manager, was to both start the trend of things to come and lay the foundations for his legend:<br /> <b>'Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one.'</b> Time to celebrate Before Mourinho was appointed as manager of Chelsea, many English fans were already aware of his existence - especially Manchester United fans. In charge of Porto, his team came to Old Trafford and beat the odds by knocking United out of the Champions League thanks to a last minute goal. As Costinha bundled the ball home, Mourinho set off on a wild run down the Old Trafford touchline to celebrate. Le Professor? Non. Le Voyeur 'I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur,' Mourinho famously said of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in October 2005. 'He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea.' Winning the title After Mourinho's assertion that he was the 'Special One', the Portuguese wasted no time in proving the doubters wrong. In his first season as Chelsea boss, he led the club to their first league title in 50 years. He would go on to win the league title again the following season as well as the FA Cup, two League Cups and one Community Shield during his time in charge. Omelettes and eggs 'It is omelettes and eggs. No eggs - no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs.' Mourinho was explaining in his own special way the issue of money drying up at Stamford Bridge. He continued: 'In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem.' Terrier threat Mourinho was arrested and cautioned in 2007 after allegedly refusing to allow police to quarantine his pet dog. He reportedly rushed home from an awards ceremony after he was tipped off by his wife about what was going on. Upon returning home, eyewitnesses claimed he freed the animal from the health officials, rushed out into the street and encouraged his pet to run off. He then told them, 'I've sent my dog to St Tropez.' Pressure ....We're told that football managers are under constant pressure. But Mourinho didn't agree: Pressure? There is no pressure. Bird Flu is pressure. (The press laugh) No, you laugh, but I am being serious. I am more worried about the swan then I am about football. Out with the laundry This story is unproven, but the audacity of it if it is true makes it worth recounting. Mourinho was banned by Uefa from having any contact with his Chelsea players during the 2005 Champions League quarter-finals. To get around this, it's alleged that Mourinho sneaked into the ground early and gave both the pre-game and half-time team-talks. While the game was in play, Mourinho watched from the dressing room and relayed instructions to assistant Rui Faria, who it's suggested was wearing an earpiece - covered by a suspiciously large hat (pictured). After the game Mourinho was reportedly wheeled out of the stadium in a laundry basket. On the bus Following a 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho quipped: <br /> 'As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal.' Sssshhhh... Mourinho bagged his first trophy for Chelsea with a Carling Cup triumph over Liverpool. But at the time almost as much was made of his gesture to Liverpool fans as was Chelsea's 3-2 win. When Steven Gerrard scored a late own-goal to send the match into extra-time, Mourinho turned to the Liverpool fans, who had been barracking him all game, and put his finger to his lips as if to suggest 'be quiet'. Mourinho later claimed he was gesturing towards the press - but no-one believed him. Rijkaard and the ref 'When I saw Rijkaard entering the referee's dressing room I couldn't believe it. When Drogba was sent off I didn't get surprised.'<br /> This quote from Mourinho caused a storm. The Chelsea boss was suggesting that Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard had paid a visit to the dressing room of referee Anders Frisk during half-time of their Champions League encounter. It was a hugely damaging statement that led to a two match ban for Mourinho, saw him labelled the 'enemy of football' by Uefa's head of referees, and led to the retirement of Frisk who was receiving death threats following the match. Melons Mourinho apparently liked using food as an analogy for his thoughts, as he proved when discussing his youth players at Chelsea:<br /> 'Young players are a little bit like melons. Only when you open and taste the melon are you 100 per cent sure that the melon is good. Sometimes you have beautiful melons but they don't taste very good and some other melons are a bit ugly and when you open them, the taste is fantastic. For example, Scott Sinclair, the way he played against Arsenal and Man United, we know the melon we have.' <b>Chin up</b><br /> An enduring image of Mourinho was his gesture to Chelsea fans that they keep their 'chin up' following a draw to Arsenal that ended their hopes of another league title. His strength in the face of defeat was another feather in his bow. It's the president When Mourinho when asked by a Ghanaian journalist if he ever phoned Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to see how he was, the Portuguese replied:<br /> 'Would you phone the president of Ghana?' Bonjourno Mourinho showed no signs of letting up after his move to Italy. Much like his introduction to England, he captivated the press at the first opportunity. In his opening press conference he spoke fluent Italian (something he claimed to have learned in three-weeks 'because I'm very intelligent'). And following one awkward question, Mourinho paused before delivering a classic piece of Milanese slang: 'Non sono un pirla' - 'I'm not a d**khead'. The room exploded in laughter and brought Mourinho his first round of applause on Italian soil. Take him down Mourinho's popularity waned during his time in Italy, when his constant jibes at officials, managers and referees antagonised just about everyone in Italy, including his own fans. A notable episode involved the Special One performing a 'handcuffs' gesture after seeing Inter's Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba sent off and Samuel Eto'o booked in a match with Sampdoria. He received a three-game ban. Leaving on a high Despite the mutual disharmony between Mourinho and Italy in general, after completing an unprecedented treble with Inter Milan last season, a shared respect was formed. Mourinho would leave Inter shortly after their Champions League triumph, declaring:<br /> 'My work here is done. I have been very happy at Inter but not in the world of Italian football because I don't like all the comments from presidents, coaches and papers. But I will always like Inter. I want to thank Italian football because I have become a better coach for it.' Up to his old tricks Ahead of the first of Real Madrid's current four meetings with Barcelona, it was announced shortly before a press conference that Mourinho would not be answering questions. Instead, his assistant Aitor Karanka would be speaking. But then, rather bizarrely, Mourinho attended the press conference yet continued his silence. Journalists were furious and staged a mass walk-out. The Premier League success is Jose Mourinho's third with the club Jose Mourinho says his Premier League-winning side will have to be even better next season Crowning moment: Jose Mourinho and Chelsea bid farewell to Didier Drogba after lifting the Premier League trophy PA Shocking: Jose Mourinho has been left stunned by events at Chelsea this season AP Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side are under pressure going into the clash with Liverpool Eva Carneiro left her role with Chelsea after criticism from manager Jose Mourinho A supporters wearing a Jose Mourinho mask waves from his seat ahead of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on October 31, 2015. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Chelsea fans hold a banner to show their faith to Jose Mourinho prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Chelsea fans wearing Jose Mourinho, John Terry and Diego Costa masks are seen on the stand prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) Getty Images Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho watched as his side lost 3-1 to Liverpool Out of form: Diego Costa was on the bench for Chelsea BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images Chelsea's assistant manager Steve Holland (left), Diego Costa and Kenedy (right) before the Barclays Premier League match at the White Hart Lane, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday November 29, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Tottenham. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PA Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa (top) passes Chelsea's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho as he goes to warm up during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at White Hart Lane in north London on November 29, 2015. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa (R) walks along the touch line during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at White Hart Lane in north London on November 29, 2015. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (cenrtre) with assistants Rui Faria (left) and Steve Holland on the touchline during the Barclays Premier League match at The King Power Stadium, Leicester. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday December 14, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Leicester. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PA Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's miserable season shows no sign of improving Jose Mourinho has left Chelsea STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: A Stoke City fan wears a Jose Mourinho mask as he poses with a P45 for Louis van Gaal, manager of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester United at Britannia Stadium on December 26, 2015 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images) Getty Images Jose Mourinho signs three-year deal for Manchester United. Pic Manchester United / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jose Mourinho's best moments: Would you like me to lapdance for you? Jose Mourinho made an appearance on Italian television show Chiambretti Night, shortly after his move to Italy. As England manager Fabio Capello once found out, part of the show involves a private dance from a scantily clad woman. Mourinho appeared to find it difficult to stay awake for the performance.

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