Mauricio Pochettino has mutually parted ways with Chelsea after one season, guiding the team to a sixth-place Premier League finish. Despite securing European football and reaching domestic cup finals, the club and Pochettino decided to separate paths.
Mauricio Pochettino has parted ways with Chelsea by mutual consent after just one season.
The Argentine manager, who joined the club in May 2023, helped Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, securing European football.
However, despite leading the team to the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup semi-finals, the club and Pochettino decided to go separate ways.
The club's statement on Tuesday confirmed the departure, thanking Pochettino and his coaching staff for their contributions. Pochettino expressed gratitude towards the club's ownership and sporting directors, highlighting Chelsea's potential for future success in both the Premier League and European competitions.
Pochettino was appointed after a lengthy recruitment process following the sacking of interim manager Frank Lampard.
During his tenure, Chelsea invested heavily in young talent, spending over £400 million on new signings, while also offloading nearly £250 million worth of players, including key figures like Cesar Azpilicueta, N'Golo Kante, and Mateo Kovacic.
Despite a strong finish to the season with five consecutive wins, Pochettino's future remained uncertain. Following a final-day victory against Bournemouth, talks between Pochettino and Chelsea's sporting directors resulted in the decision for him to step down. Both sides felt they were on different paths moving forward.
Chelsea's sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, praised Pochettino's efforts, wishing him well in his future endeavors. The club is now on the lookout for a new manager, with names like Ipswich's Kieran McKenna, Leicester's Enzo Maresca, Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness, and Girona's Michel reportedly under consideration.
Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, will next manage the World XI at the Soccer Aid charity match in June, set to take place at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.
