Former Chelsea defender Minto tips Rijkaard for Chelsea post

Minto, who made 54 appearances for the Blues during his three years at the club between 1994 and 1997, claims Rijkaard could turn Chelsea into the type of stylish footballing team billionaire owner Roman Abramovich craves to see in West London.

"Chelsea don't want to be a club that changes its leader on a yearly basis like European giants Real Madrid in the past," said Minto.

Minto's choice: Former Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard should be appointed as Avram Grant's successor at Chelsea.

"Manchester United, along with Arsenal, are the two most successful teams of the last decade in this country - and the reason for that is stability.

"Many different voices at the Bridge, from chief executive Peter Kenyon to director of youth development Frank Arnesen, will offer their opinion on who the new boss should be.

"But there's only one man who will make the final decision. And after putting more than £500million into Stamford Bridge, Abramovich is entitled to take his time and pick who he likes.

"But my choice would be Frank Rijkaard. The Dutchman preaches the kind of football philosophy that is closest to what Abramovich wants to see and, if he's anything like his fellow countryman Ruud Gullit, I can talk from experience that the players would love playing for him."

Minto played under Gullit while at Chelsea and insists the club must go Dutch and plump for Rijkaard if they want to become European champions after losing to Manchester United on penalties in the Champions League final last week.

"My time under Ruud was one of my most enjoyable experiences in football," he said.

"He made everything about the game a joy, and I am sure that Rijkaard would do the same.

"It can be no coincidence that three Dutch players that formed the axis of the great AC Milan side of the late 1980s, Gullit, Rijkaard and current Holland boss Marco Van Basten, have all gone on to create sides that have played open, expansive football.

"Barcelona were the best club side on the planet when they beat Arsenal in the Champions League Final in 2006.

"Rijkaard combined that elusive quality of winning games with the 'sexy' football that Abramovich has been searching for since he fell in love with the game."

Minto reckons Guus Hiddink, Luis Felipe Scolari, Mark Hughes would all prove a popular choice among Blues fans but claims reports linking Jose Mourinho with a return to Stamford Bridge are inaccurate.

"That ship has sailed never to return," he said. "Grant was always going to find it hard to follow the 'Special One'. The next man in the hot-seat needs to capture the fans imagination - and Rijkaard can do just that."