CALLS for Mauricio Pochettino's departure from Chelsea continued among fans for much of the season.
But a huge improvement in form towards the end of the season saw the club qualify for Europe and put an end to this chatter.
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But just days after the end of his first and only campaign at the helm, Pochettino made a shocking retirement through mutual consent.
In a frenzied 24 hours, the 52-year-old Argentinian departed amicably Chelsea after an end-of-season evaluation meeting.
The road to his departure started last Friday when Pochettino dined with Blues owner Todd Boehly.
Chelsea then defeated Bournemouth 2-1 on Sunday to secure sixth place.
The following day the boss was reportedly called to the Cobham training ground for crunch talks The Telegraph.
Sports directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart were there – while also having a chat with co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
By the end of the meeting, a decision would have been made mutually about Pochettino's future and he handed in his notice the next morning.
Boehly also called Pochettino on Monday and Tuesday.
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There was reportedly “no dismissal and no arguing, just handshakes and an agreement to move on respectfully.”
The reason for Poch's departure is attributed to issues “related to the dynamics of working within a club structure”.
Pochettino's Chelsea record
MAURICIO POCHETTINO had just started to turn Chelsea around.
Their impressive late-season form saw the Blues leapfrog Manchester United and Newcastle to finish sixth in the Premier League and earn a place in the Europa League.
But that was not enough to keep him in work, as it was announced on Tuesday evening that the Argentinian had left.
Here they all are PochettinoStamford Bridge Stats:
Premier League – 6e
FA Cup – Semi-finals (lost to Man City)
Carabao cup – Runners-up (lost to Liverpool)
Total record:
Play 51
Win 26
Draws 11
Defeats 14
Goals for 103
Goals against 74
Both the club and the boss decided it was better to part ways now than risk a messy ending next summer when his contract expires.
The Blues will play in the Club World Cup, which starts on June 15, 2025.
Pochettino's contract expires at the end of that tournament, potentially marking an awkward end to his reign had he not earned a new contract.
There was also the threat that Pochettino could be dropped if Chelsea started poorly next season and fan anger came to the fore again.
Ultimately, Chelsea's owners had set targets to qualify for the Champions Leaguewhich were not met.
There were always plans to review the season at the end of May.
And those discussions led to the end of Pochettino's short reign at Stamford Bridge.
Who could be the next Chelsea manager?
HERE are the seven names in the running to replace Mauricio Pochettino following his shock departure from Chelsea.
Roberto De Zerbi
The Italian left Brighton at the end of the season after a year and a half in charge. He was linked with a host of top jobs earlier in the season, but a difficult run of results saw him fall out of contention for the likes of Liverpool. De Zerbi's attacking, front-foot style would be popular at Stamford Bridge.
Kieran McKenna
The former Manchester United assistant has guided Ipswich to successive promotions from League One to the Premier League. That has sent his stock through the roof and he may be tempted to spring for a big job.
Enzo Maresca
Maresca was Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City and has worked wonders at Leicester, returning the Foxes to the Premier League at the first attempt. Appointing a Pep disciple has turned Arsenal into title contenders, so it could work for Chelsea too.
Hansi Flick
Flick was one of the most sought-after football managers after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich. But it all went wrong in his next role, which saw him become the first manager ever sacked by Germany. Now he is ready to return and could be a smart move for the Blues
Sebastian Hoeness
Chelsea fans may not have heard of him, but Hoeness is Germany's next big thing. Hoeness transformed Stuttgart from relegation candidates to the second-best team in the Bundesliga, finishing above Bayern Munich. Only the invincible Bayer Leverkusen stood in the way of a miracle.
Michael
Michel Sanchez has done wonders for little Girona in Spain. The minnows were right in the LaLiga title race at Christmas before seeing Real Madrid shoot into the distance. But they have pipped illustrious Catalan neighbors Barcelona all the way to second place and are assured of a place in the Champions League. Reports in Spain say this has caught Chelsea's attention.
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho is still adored by fans at Stamford Bridge, who have never warmed to former Spurs boss Pochettino, and is said to be a popular choice. Winner of three Premier League games with the Blues in two topsy-turvy spells, could he be the man to take Chelsea back to the top?