Chelsea Football Club has reached an agreement with Mauricio Pochettino to become their new manager. The Argentine will officially join the club in the summer, while Frank Lampard will continue as interim manager until the end of the season.
Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, has been out of work since his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2022. During his five-year tenure at Spurs, he led the team to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.
This appointment will mark Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in just five years, following the dismissals of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter earlier this season. Lampard took charge on an interim basis after Potter’s departure in early April.
Chelsea has faced challenges this season, experiencing early exits from both the FA Cup and League Cup at the hands of Manchester City. Their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season were dashed after being eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Currently sitting in 11th place in the Premier League, they have won only one of their last 11 matches, suffering eight defeats.
Pochettino had previously been linked with a potential return to Tottenham following Antonio Conte’s departure in March. Under his management, Spurs reached the League Cup final in 2015 and finished as runners-up in the Premier League during the 2016-17 season, narrowly missing out on both titles to Chelsea.
After leaving Tottenham, Pochettino took charge of PSG in January 2021, winning the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions in his first season. However, PSG finished as runners-up in Ligue 1.
Pochettino’s aim at Chelsea is to build a team that fans can “fall in love with,” according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. He seeks a pressing, aggressive style of play and a competitive squad where players have to earn their place in the starting lineup.
With the imminent arrival of Pochettino, Chelsea supporters and the club are anticipating a new chapter and a fresh approach to ignite their passion for the team.
