Mauricio Pochettino named next Chelsea head coach

Chelsea Football Club announced on Monday that Mauricio Pochettino, the former manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, will be joining the team for the upcoming season.

Pochettino, who departed from PSG last year, has signed an initial two-year contract with Chelsea, commencing on July 1.

Following a challenging season under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard, who served as interim managers, Chelsea finished in 12th place in the Premier League.

The club’s co-sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, expressed their confidence in Pochettino’s experience, high standards, leadership qualities, and character, stating that these attributes will benefit Chelsea as they move forward.

They described Pochettino as a winning coach with a wealth of experience in various leagues and languages, emphasizing his exceptional qualities and commitment to development.

Pochettino achieved notable successes during his tenure at Tottenham, guiding the team to the UEFA Champions League final. Additionally, he secured the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France with PSG. Joining Chelsea, Pochettino will inherit a team with an abundance of star players but lacking consistent form, as the club has made substantial investments in signings over the past year.

The owners of Chelsea, Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, José E. Feliciano, Mark Walter, and Hansjörg Wyss, commended the diligent and thoughtful process conducted by the sporting team in selecting Pochettino.

They expressed their delight in having a world-class coach with an exceptional track record joining the club and conveyed their anticipation for his contributions.

Pochettino’s contract includes an option for a one-year extension. He becomes Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager since 2018, following Potter, Thomas Tuchel, Lampard, Maurizio Sarri, and Antonio Conte.