Todd Boehly looking for his sixth Chelsea manager in two years after Mauricio Pochettino exit confirmed
Pochettino's 325-day spell at Stamford Bridge is over.
Mauricio Pochettino left his role as manager of Chelsea on Tuesday.
His exit followed a pre-planned end-of-season review by the club’s American owners, including chairman Todd Boehly.
Pochettino’s departure was confirmed by Chelsea in a 145-word club statement.
Chelsea claimed that Pochettino’s exit was “mutually agreed” but Fabrizio Romano suggested in an exclusive column earlier on Tuesday that the former Tottenham boss had been keen to continue at Stamford Bridge.
The statement began: “Chelsea FC can confirm that the Club and Mauricio Pochettino have mutually agreed to part ways.”
Sporting Directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley were then quoted as saying: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
Pochettino added: “Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club's history. The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
After revealing that coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino had also parted company with the club, the statement concluded: “The Club will be making no further comment until such time as a new Head Coach is appointed.”
That new head coach will be Chelsea’s sixth since the Boehly-led takeover was completed in May 2022.
Thomas Tuchel was sacked in September 2022 on Boehly’s 100th day at Chelsea.
The German was replaced by Graham Potter, who lasted less than seven months.
After Bruno Saltor had taken charge of one game as an interim manager, Boehly brought back club legend Frank Lampard for a forgettable 85-day stint in the hot-seat.
Pochettino, despite lasting less than a year, is actually Chelsea’s longest-serving manager of the Boehly era.
But despite his history of chopping and changing, Boehly’s desire is to build for the long term.
It is understood that Boehly’s preference is to hire a young and dynamic head coach who can lead a lasting rebuild at Stamford Bridge.
Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna are both candidates, according to Romano.
Romano tweeted shortly after Pochettino’s departure was confirmed: “Chelsea are looking for dynamic manager, several candidates are being discussed internally with owners and directors involved.
“Thomas Frank among names mentioned internally; also Kieran McKenna but still all open. Seb Hoeness, highly rated but fully focused on Stuttgart.”
McKenna, 38, has just led Ipswich Town to promotion to the Premier League, while Frank has kept Brentford up in England’s top division for three straight seasons.
Both are very highly regarded at their current clubs and it remains to be seen whether they could be tempted away by Boehly.
As reported by Daily Briefing columnist Ben Jacobs on Tuesday evening, Ipswich are calm despite Chelsea’s interest in their star boss.
Jacobs tweeted: “Kieran McKenna is currently at the LMA Awards Dinner on an Ipswich table sitting next to CEO Mark Ashton. It's all smiles. Ipswich are calm about the situation and increased speculation about their manager.”
