Chelsea made the decision to hire Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager on Monday, entrusting him with the challenging task of revitalizing the troubled Premier League club.
Pochettino agreed to a two-year contract with the option for an additional year, marking his return to the Premier League four years after his departure from London rivals Tottenham.
The 51-year-old Argentine had been without a job since his dismissal from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2022. “Mauricio is a world-class coach with an outstanding track record. We are all looking forward to having him on board,” stated Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
Pochettino, set to begin his new role on July 1, replaces Frank Lampard, who took over as caretaker boss until the end of the season. Lampard became Chelsea’s third manager during a dismal campaign that saw Boehly sack Thomas Tuchel in September and subsequently dismiss his successor Graham Potter in April, after less than seven months in charge.
Following talks with former Spain manager Luis Enrique and recently sacked Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann, Pochettino emerged as the favourite for the position. While Pochettino verbally agreed to take charge in April, the appointment was postponed until the end of the season.
With Chelsea concluding their lackluster Premier League campaign with a draw against Newcastle on Sunday, Pochettino arrived in England to finalize the deal.
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, expressed their confidence in Pochettino, stating, “Mauricio’s experience, standards of excellence, leadership qualities, and character will serve Chelsea Football Club well as we move forward. He is a winning coach, who has worked at the highest levels, in multiple leagues and languages. His ethos, tactical approach, and commitment to development all made him the exceptional candidate.”
Upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino faces the daunting task of turning around a club in crisis, following their disappointing 12th-place finish in the Premier League, their first bottom-half placement since 1996.
Additionally, Chelsea suffered defeats in the FA Cup and League Cup to Manchester City and made a lackluster exit from the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid.
Pochettino is reportedly eager to strengthen the team with new signings in key positions such as goalkeeper, central midfielder, and striker.
The Argentine manager will need to address fractured team morale, as several frustrated stars are seeking regular game-time or looking to leave the club.
Acknowledging the decline in standards within Chelsea’s squad, Lampard admitted after his final game that the club’s level had significantly dropped since their last Premier League triumph in 2017.
Having previously managed Southampton in the Premier League from 2013 to 2014, Pochettino’s successful five-year tenure at Tottenham, where he secured four top-four finishes and led the team to their first-ever Champions League final in 2019, provides him with a wealth of experience in the English top-flight.
While some Chelsea fans may harbour reservations due to his history with Tottenham, Pochettino’s achievements in the Premier League make him a compelling choice for the job.
After his dismissal from Tottenham just months after their memorable Champions League run, Pochettino took charge of PSG in January 2021.
Although he failed to win the Ligue 1 title in his first season, he guided the team to victory in the Coupe de France.
PSG claimed the French championship in his second season, but their disappointing Champions League exit in the round of 16 led to his dismissal and subsequent replacement by Christophe Galtier last July.
