LONDON, ENGLAND – Chelsea Football Club has officially parted ways with head coach Mauricio Pochettino after just 11 months in charge. The Argentine manager, who returned to the Premier League following an 18-month tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, aimed to revitalize a Chelsea side that finished a disappointing 12th in the 2022-23 season.
Despite a slow start to the current campaign, Pochettino managed to guide Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, securing a spot in European competitions. The Blues ended the season just three points behind Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth.
Throughout the season, both Pochettino and the majority of the squad faced criticism, with the exception of summer signing Cole Palmer. The former Manchester City forward emerged as a standout performer, netting 22 Premier League goals and finishing second in the Golden Boot race behind Erling Haaland.
According to The Telegraph, the decision to part ways was made by mutual consent. Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, along with co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, informed Pochettino of the decision late Tuesday morning. The announcement followed a series of meetings between the Chelsea hierarchy and Pochettino on Monday and Tuesday to review the season’s progress.
Pochettino, who had signed a two-year contract, will reportedly receive a substantial compensation package as part of his departure. Despite the termination, sources indicate there is ‘no bad blood’ between Pochettino and the club, with the Chelsea management appreciating the team’s late surge towards European qualification.
As Chelsea looks to the future, the club will now begin the search for a new head coach to build on the foundation laid during Pochettino’s tenure.