GRAHAM AND RUUD WERE KING OF BLUES

GRAHAM RIX played more than 500 games for Arsenal and was capped 17 times by England.

Idolised by Highbury fans, the former striker took his first steps in coaching under Glenn Hoddle at Chelsea in 1993.

Three years later Rix was promoted to Stamford Bridge first-team coach with the arrival of Ruud Gullit as Hoddle became England boss.

In May the following year, Chelsea won the FA Cup.

When Gullit quit the following year, Rix went on to perform a crucial role in the dugout under Gianluca Vialli.

The duo claimed their first trophy, the League Cup in 1998. Two months later they landed the European Cup- Winners' Cup against Stuttgart in Stockholm.

Rix played a pivotal role in that success when he made the decision to replace Tore Andre Flo with Gianfranco Zola who netted the game's only goal after just 18 seconds one the park.

But on March 26, 1999, Rix hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when he was jailed for a year for having unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl and indecent assault.

After his release from Wandsworth Prison six months later, he said: "I made a mistake but didn't come out with any bull and try to weasel my way out of it."

Chelsea stood by their man, with Vialli a frequent visitor to Rix during his time behind bars. But when Claudio Ranieri replaced Vialli, Rix found himself "doing nothing" as The Tinkerman installed his own backroom team.

Rix left Chelsea to take up his first managerial post at Portsmouth.

Pompey owner Milan Mandaric later brought in Harry Redknapp as director of football and Rix was left feeling alienated.

He said at the time: "Probably I was depressed. As far as I was concerned, the chairman didn't want me there and neither did Harry. I was getting it from all sides."

A poor run of results saw Rix moved upstairs and then out of the Fratton Park exit door in March.

An unsuccessful spell at Oxford followed.

Now the 48-year-old is back in football. Hearts' decision to give Rix a second chance has sparked controversy - and he must know he will have to prove himself all over again

Taken from the Daily Record