- Mauricio Pochettino guided Chelsea to sixth place in his first season in charge
- But he has now left the club by mutual consent following an end-of-season review
- IAN LADYMAN: The Premier League title race was on the rocks, it's not boring compared to other European leagues! – Listen to the It all starts! podcast
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent last night after one season in charge, having spent the past two days in talks with the club's disgruntled hierarchy.
The 52-year-old Argentine was subjected to an internal review – led by co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali and sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart – in the wake of their 2-1 win over Bournemouth on the last day of the campaign.
That fifth consecutive one Premier League the win confirmed a sixth-place finish that will take Chelsea to Europe next season, but ultimately failed to secure the title Champions League football that the owners wanted in return for their billion-dollar spending.
Pochettino's contract, which still had one year to run, was therefore terminated. Chelsea insiders say they are now targeting a 'young, forward-thinking' head coach as their replacement, with the one from Ipswich. Kieran McKenna – also searched by Brighton – one of the issues under serious consideration.
Pochettino had dinner with co-owner Todd Boehly in London on Friday evening, but was given no guarantees about what would happen to him after Sunday's final.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after one season in charge
The former Tottenham boss is leaving halfway through his two-year contract at Stamford Bridge
The 52-year-old Argentinian was subjected to an internal review – led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley (left) and Laurence Stewart (right) and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali
During meetings with Eghbali, Winstanley and Stewart on Monday and Tuesday – which assessed the entire season, including why they have been beset by more injuries than any other Premier League club – the differences over strategy became devastatingly clear.
Pochettino has long been frustrated by the lack of power afforded him, including in the transfer market. Ultimately, it was decided that an immediate separation was best, rather than risk significant fallout midway through the next season. The split is said to be 'amicable', with Pochettino eligible for a compensation package as part of the deal and his reputation intact after losing just one of Chelsea's last 15 Premier League games.
However, the season had not been without challenges, with Chelsea in 11th place after a dismal 4–2 home defeat to Wolves on 4 February, but there had been significant signs of progress under Argentina in recent months.
Chelsea are targeting a 'young' coach as Pochettino's replacement, with Ipswich's Kieran McKenna among the players being considered after leading Ipswich to back-to-back promotions
Pochettino leaves Stamford Bridge after winning 27 of his 51 games as Blues captain
Pochettino also improved a number of young Blues stars as the campaign progressed, including Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto, while their Premier League points tally of 63 was 19 more than last season, the biggest improvement of any club in the top flight. .
In addition to McKenna at Ipswich, other head coaches include Sebastian Hoeness from Stuttgart and Michel from Girona. Less likely contenders include Leicester's Enzo Maresca and Burnley's Vincent Kompany, while links to former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim are being played down by club sources.
In a statement released last night, Pochettino said: 'Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity to be part of the history of this football club. The club is now well positioned to continue to progress in the Premier League and Europe in the coming years.”
Pochettino had dinner with co-owner Todd Boehly, but received no guarantees about his future
Pochettino's departure comes despite Chelsea ending the season with five consecutive wins
Winstanley and Stewart added in a joint statement: 'On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his services this season. He is welcome at Stamford Bridge at any time and we wish him all the best in his future coaching career.”
No one commented from the ownership group, which will now have to appoint a fourth permanent head coach since taking over the club in May 2022. Pochettino joins Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter after being sacked, with Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard also acting as interims.
Last night it was confirmed that Jesus Perez, Miguel d'Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino have also left the club with the manager, who led Chelsea to the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup semi-finals, as well as finishing sixth in the table.