It was also due to Ranieri's reluctance to bring in Mrs Abramovich's friends the Shevchenkos, ( She and Mrs Shev were besties apparently) although to be fair he wasn't that bad despite getting on a bit.
He was lucky it was at the time Mr A was spending like a mad man, I think anyone would have been successful in the Drogba/Lampard/ makelele/ Terry era. He won't go to Liverpool, he would never be a fit there. My money would be on Gerrard being their next manager.