Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine coach, has left Chelsea by mutual agreement after just one season in charge. The decision was made following a meeting with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali.
According to Telegraph Sport, Pochettino agreed to his departure late on Tuesday morning during the club’s end-of-season review that began on Monday. Despite the sudden exit, there is no bad blood between Pochettino and Chelsea. The club will immediately commence their search for a replacement with a focus on young and progressive coaches.
Among potential successors are Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, Girona’s Michel, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna - who Brighton has shown interest in - and Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca.
Pochettino had dinner with co-controlling Chelsea owner Todd Boehly last Friday night before spending several hours over Monday and Tuesday with Winstanley and Stewart as well as Eghbali. Pochettino leaves Chelsea after completing only one year of his two-year contract signed last summer. His early departure means he is set to receive a significant compensation fee.
The cycle continues at Stamford Bridge
The amicable departure of Pochettino makes him the third permanent head coach to lose his job under Clearlake Capital-Boehly ownership following Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. Bruno Saltor managed Chelsea for one game last season before Frank Lampard took interim charge; this means five managers have worked under Chelsea's current owners in just two years.
Despite an early-season struggle, Blues finished strongly under Pochettino's leadership clinching European qualification through five successive wins at the end of this season. Pochettino also led the club to the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup semi-final.
A season of mixed success for Chelsea
Despite these achievements, key figures at Stamford Bridge felt that Chelsea’s season fell short of pre-season expectations. The Argentine coach leaves with his reputation intact but a crippling injury list among other issues raised concerns about overall performance.
Mauricio Pochettino's departure from Chelsea marks another chapter in the club's recent history of managerial changes. As they look for a new coach to lead them into next season, fans will be hoping for stability and success on all fronts.
