Mauricio Pochettino is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Graham Potter at Chelsea, following a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge.
Following Saturday's defeat to bottom of the table Southampton, Graham Potter is under a mountain of pressure to stay in his job at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have won just twice in 14 games, and last weekend’s uninspiring home defeat to the Saints was a pivotal moment for Potter, who has since been the subject of mass scrutiny by Chelsea fans and the media alike.
He took over from popular manager Thomas Tuchel in September and had been successful in his first few games in the job, but any sort of optimism has evaporated after the defeat on Saturday, which leaves the Blues 23 points off top spot, and 11 points of Champions League football, the same gap between Chelsea and the relegation zone.
The Chelsea board are said to have a desire to move away from the hiring and firing of managers, but should they continue to slide down the table, it might be sooner rather than later that the Chelsea board decide to act.
They exited both domestic cup competitions under Potter and face an uphill task if they are to see off Borussia Dortmund and qualify for the Champions League Quarter-finals. He is currently a best price of 2/5 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his role at Stamford Bridge.
Who are the favourites to take over at Chelsea?
Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino was one of the favourites to take over at Stamford Bridge back in September following Thomas Tuchel’s dismissal, and he is a best price of 2/1 to take over should Potter leave his position. The former Tottenham manager has been out of a job in English football since his departure from Tottenham in 2019, and has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
He was able to bring both teams further up the table, and took Spurs to their first ever Champions League final in 2019. His time at Spurs might hinder his chances of taking the job on, but he has not ruled out the possibility of moving to Stamford Bridge.
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Zinedine Zidane
Another manager who was linked with the job in September, Zinedine Zidane is a best price of 6/1 to be the next permanent Chelsea manager. The former Real Madrid player and manager, having won the Champions League four times with Los Blancos, as well as managing his side to two La Liga titles in 2017 and 2020, has previously stated he would want to take the French national team job.
With Zidane having pedigree at winning silverware at the biggest club in the world, it would be an understatement to say Chelsea fans could be excited by his arrival. Again, it remains to be seen if the Chelsea board would be willing to let Potter leave, but he could be a replacement that would get the fans back on board their long term project.
Luis Enrique
Former Barcelona and Spain manager Luis Enrique has been out of a job since Spain’s premature exit from the 2022 World Cup at the hands of Morocco, and is in at 12/1 to be the next permanent Chelsea manager. Enrique’s time as a manager of a national team ended badly, having seen by many to have failed to reach a suitable stage for the Spanish National Team’s liking in Qatar, but Chelsea fans can reflect on his time as Barcelona manager prior to him taking the Spain job with optimism.
One could argue that having three of the best forwards in world football in Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar makes one’s life a lot easier, but Enrique took Barcelona to two successive La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey successes and a Champions League triumph in 2015. He was awarded FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2015, and with his services now available, he could be a option for Chelsea to become their permanent manager.
And what about the outsiders?
At 14/1, Thomas Tuchel, who was succeeded by Graham Potter, is an option for Chelsea, but it is highly unlikely to join. There were reported fallouts with the board and it would be bizarre to reappoint the manager who they got rid of in the same season.
Behind him though, Diego Simeone at 16/1 might be a more interesting option to consider. The current Atletico Madrid manager has been at the helm since 2011, making his one of the longest serving managers not just in La Liga, but in Europe. His fiery personality is similar to Jose Mourinho when he first joined Chelsea back in 2004, and Thomas Tuchel, who took the Blues to their second ever Champions League title.
He has won La Liga twice with Los Colchoneros, including two Europa Leagues and coming runners-up in two Champions League finals, both to Real Madrid. This season however, they finished bottom of their Champions League group, meaning they will play no further action in Europe, and are lacking behind Real Sociedad in 4th, with Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano behind them in 5th and 6th. This has led to rumours circulating about Simeone’s future, hence why he is linked to the Stamford Bridge position.
Also linked with the job is twice former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Factually the most successful Chelsea manager, Mourinho won the Premier League three times at Stamford Bridge, including three League cups and an FA Cup. He has also won respective league titles in Italy, Spain and Portugal, making him one of the most decorated managers in world football. At 16/1 he is an outsider, and it might not be a long term appointment in mind, seeing as he hasn’t lasted more than four seasons in any of those positions, including both spells at Stamford Bridge.
Next Permanent Chelsea Manager Odds
| Name | Best Price | Worst Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mauricio Pochettino | 2/1 | 6/5 |
| Zinedine Zidane | 6/1 | 6/1 |
| Luis Enrique | 12/1 | 12/1 |
| Thomas Tuchel | 14/1 | 12/1 |
| Diego Simeone | 16/1 | 12/1 |
| Jose Mourinho | 16/1 | 16/1 |
