Chelsea to hold talks with Mauricio Pochettino over managerial vacancy?

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 07 September 2022

Chelsea to hold talks with Pochettino over managerial vacancy?

Chelsea are reportedly planning to hold talks with Mauricio Pochettino over the managerial vacancy at the club, following the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues announced on Wednesday morning that they have parted company with Tuchel, the day after the German saw his side suffer a disappointing 1-0 away defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group-stage game.

Todd Boehly and his consortium – who took over the club from Roman Abramovich in May – believe that "it is the right time to make this transition", and they now plan to move swiftly to appoint Tuchel's successor.

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter is believed to be the frontrunner to take the reins at Stamford Bridge, and a recent report claims that the Seagulls have given the 47-year-old permission to speak to Chelsea.

Mauricio Pochettino in charge of Paris Saint-Germain in December 2021 © Reuters

However, The Athletic claim that the Blues also intend to hold discussions with former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino about the vacant managerial position.

The reports adds that the Argentine would be open to the prospect of returning to the Premier League and taking charge at Chelsea.

Pochettino has been out of work since he was sacked by French giants Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer, despite helping the club lift the Ligue 1 title last season.

The 50-year-old was strongly linked with a potential switch to Manchester United earlier this year before they decided to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager.

Pochettino began his managerial career with Spanish side Espanyol, where he spent three years in charge before moving to the Premier League to join Southampton in January 2013.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino reacts on November 9, 2019 © Reuters

The Murphy-born boss lasted less than 18 months on the South coast as he was snapped up by Tottenham in the summer of 2014.

Pochettino enjoyed a successful five-year period in charge at Spurs, winning 160 of his 293 games at the helm, but he was unable to end their barren spell without a trophy.

The Lilywhites finished second in the 2016-17 Premier League behind Leicester City, before losing to Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final.

Former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane and Benfica manager Roger Schmidt are also thought to be under consideration by the Chelsea hierarchy.