Mauricio Pochettino Leaves Chelsea by Mutual Consent After One Season

After a meeting with the club's sporting hierarchy, Mauricio Pochettino, 52, has left Chelsea by mutual consent. This decision comes one year into a two-year contract, which had the option for an additional 12 months.

Pochettino's side rallied late in the season, securing a sixth placed Premier League finish and adding 19 points to their tally from 2022-2023. They also reached the final of the EFL Cup and the semifinals of the FA Cup.

Club Statement

Chelsea FC released a statement acknowledging Pochettino's departure, thanking him for his service during the season. They expressed gratitude and wished him the best in his future coaching career.

Before the end of season review, Pochettino met with co-controlling owner Todd Boehly. It was left to Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, and sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart to determine Chelsea's view on the head coach.

Next Manager

Chelsea is now on the lookout for a new manager to succeed Pochettino. Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is among the candidates being considered for the role. The next manager will be the fourth permanent occupant of the Stamford Bridge dugout since the Clearlake Capital consortium took over the club two years ago.

Pochettino will coach a World XI in the annual Soccer Aid charity match at Stamford Bridge, indicating a potential return in a more permanent role. There are also potential vacancies at AC Milan and Bayern Munich.

With Pochettino's departure, Chelsea now faces the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for the vacant position at Stamford Bridge. Additionally, they are dealing with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Regulations, which pose a significant financial challenge.

As of March, exclusive analysis for CBS Sports calculated that the Blues were on course to be significantly over the £105 million loss limit over a three-year period. The compensation expected to be paid to Pochettino will further exacerbate this financial challenge.