May 21st 2024.
After just one season in charge, Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea. This means that the club will have to begin their search for a new manager once again. It was confirmed this evening that Pochettino and the club had mutually agreed to part ways. The Argentine took over from interim boss Frank Lampard last summer, but unfortunately, it was a disappointing campaign for the Blues. They ended the season trophyless and in sixth place in the Premier League table.
Despite reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the Carabao Cup, where they were ultimately beaten by Liverpool, it was not enough to save Pochettino's job. In fact, the uncertainty over his future had already been hinted at in his post-match interview after Chelsea's win over Bournemouth on the final day of the season. He was unable to confirm whether he would still be in charge next season. Adding to the speculation, Pochettino also decided to skip the team's customary lap of appreciation while his players thanked the supporters.
This news means that Chelsea will now have had seven different managers in the span of just eight years. The list includes Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri, Lampard, Graham Potter, Lampard (again), and now Pochettino. The search for Pochettino's replacement has already begun, with several high-profile names being linked to the vacant position. Many of these names are currently working in the Premier League.
The early favorite according to bookmakers is Roberto De Zerbi, who recently announced his departure from Brighton. The 44-year-old Italian is highly sought after in European football and has also been linked to Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Other top candidates include Germans Sebastian Hoeness and Thomas Tuchel, the latter of whom previously won the Champions League with Chelsea. Tuchel's prior issues with the club's owner, Todd Boehly, may not rule him out of contention.
Other names on the list include Kieran McKenna, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and Unai Emery. Surprisingly, legendary ex-Chelsea captain John Terry, who most recently worked as Leicester City's assistant manager, has odds of 66/1. According to Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom, there has been a surge of bets on De Zerbi in the past hour, with odds dropping from 10/3 to 9/4.
As for Pochettino's future, there are several options on the table. He has been linked to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, with odds of 7/2 and 15/2, respectively. He could also potentially make a switch to international football, with odds of 14/1 to take charge of the England national team. Only time will tell where Pochettino will end up next.
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