Following the shock departure of Thomas Tuchel, we’re tracking the Chelsea next manager odds to see who is expected to replace him.
The Blues’ new owners sacked charismatic boss Tuchel just hours after a 1-0 loss at Dinamo Zagreb – with only 15 months gone since his Champions League triumph!
A statement said: “Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.
“As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the club, and as it continues its hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe it is the right time to make this transition.
“Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach.”
Here are the leading contenders to take charge on a permanent basis at Stamford Bridge, with their next Chelsea manager odds:
We reckon three candidates stand out from that list:
GRAHAM POTTER
Potter has excelled in shaping a fluent, progressive and threatening Brighton team – and all on a modest budget. Brighton’s stable and prudent board must also take great credit for the wider vision and strategy but Potter has proven himself a capable Premier League tactician. Brighton sit fourth in the embryonic Premier League table after a fine start to the new campaign. The 47-year-old Potter has not managed at Champions League level and would face another new challenge in the shape of working with hard-nosed billionaire bosses like Chelsea’s new owners. But the former Ostersunds and Swansea manager is calm, authoritative and well-respected across the game.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO
The former Argentina defender cemented his reputation by driving Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, after stints with Espanyol and Southampton. The taskmaster coach replaced Tuchel at PSG and led the French giants to the Ligue 1 title in 2022 – but he could never quite impose his will on their superstar squad. Pochettino has taken a break from coaching since his sacking by PSG in July. His credentials are excellent, but would bringing in a former Spurs boss be a popular move with Chelsea fans?
ZINEDINE ZIDANE
World Cup-winning France maestro Zidane led Real Madrid to two La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns across two stints with the Spanish giants. A majestic player who became a demanding coach, his standing and reputation has formed the bedrock of his managerial style. Boasts all the background and clout to make an immediate impression on the Chelsea squad, but yet to prove himself capable of building a lasting regime.
OUR VERDICT
We’ve assessed 20 ‘big six’ appointments over the past decade to decide which of those managers would be the best fit for Chelsea.
Our analysis shows that being British doesn’t really help Potter, given that David Moyes, Frank Lampard, Brendan Rodgers and Tim Sherwood all struggled at top clubs.
The Premier League experience of Potter and Pochettino is also overrated given that the managers who were most successful didn’t have it.
Not having won major trophies before could be an issue, though, and Zidane stands out in that department.
Chelsea Football Club part company with Thomas Tuchel.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 7, 2022
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