5 Managers who could replace Pochettino at Chelsea

• Chelsea parted ways with manager Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday
• Pochettino’s exit comes a few days after the end of the 2023/24 season in which Chelsea finished sixth
• There are several candidates who are suited to replace the Argentine at Chelsea

From big names such as Jose Mourinho and Thomas Tuchel to little known coaches such as Kieran McKenna, we take a look at managers who could replace Pochettino.

Chelsea parted ways with manager Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday, with the report making headlines in the football world. Pochettino’s exit comes a few days after the end of the 2023/24 season in which Chelsea finished sixth. Even though the club didn’t mention the reason for parting ways with the Argentine on their statement, reports indicate that the two parties had difference in opinion over the future direction of the club.

Mauricio Pochettino led Chelsea to a sixth place finish despite a turbulent start to the 2023/24 season. Photo/

The Telegraph reports that Pochettino wanted more control of the proceedings at Chelsea, something that the board were not willing to give him. The former Spurs boss was in charge of Chelsea for less than a year and the Blues are currently in the process of finding a new manager who will lead the club next season.

In this article, we take a look at managers who could replace Pochettino.

1. Sebastian Hoeness

Sebastian Hoeness is one of the few managers who have made a name for themselves in the football world this season. Hoeness joined Bundesliga clubs Stuttgart in April 2023 and helped them off the bottom of the table and into the relegation play-off. They remained in Germany’s top division after beating Hamburg in the play-off and went on to secure second place finish in the Bundesliga in the concluded 2023-24 season.

Considering the remarkable campaign Stuttgart has had under Hoeness, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him being signed by Chelsea. The German is 42 years old, which means he fits the age profile Todd Boehly and his team are looking for.

Sebastian Hoeness. Photo/ San Diego Union-Tribune.

2. Kieran McKenna 

McKenna is one of the managers who could replace Pochettino at Chelsea this summer. Just like Hoeness, McKenna wasn’t a familiar name among football fans barely a year ago. However, he has been a topic of discussion in the past few days after leading Ipswich Town to promotion.

Even though he has never managed a Premier League club, the former Manchester United man has drawn interest from various clubs in the division, including Brighton. According to sources, he is also on Chelsea’s radar and the Blues could go for him this summer.

3. Michel

Girona have had an outstanding 2023/24 campaign qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. Apart from outscoring their opponents, Girona play well as they keep possession of the ball like a top team.

Well, one man who takes credit for the great performance showcased by the La Liga club throughout the season is Michel. The Spaniard is still young and considering what we’ve seen from his Girona team, he could be a fantastic option to lead Chelsea. Michel is one of the managers who could replace Pochettino.

Girona manager Michel. Photo/ FC Barcelona Noticias.

4. Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel parted ways with Bayern Munich after the end of the 2023-24 Bundesliga season. While he did help Bayern win the Bundesliga in his debut season, things didn’t go well for him this campaign as the Bavarians failed to lift any trophy.

Currently a free agent, Tuchel is one man a good number of Chelsea fans would love to see at Stamford Bridge. The German coached the Blues not long ago and led them to triumph in the UEFA Champions League in 2021. His sacking by the Todd Boehly regime caused a lot of controversy but we wouldn’t be surprised to see him back at Chelsea.

5. Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho. Photo/ Eurosport.

Jose Mourinho has been out of work since January when he parted ways with AS Roma. Despite leading the Italian side to European success by winning the UEFA Europa Conference League, Mourinho was sacked and is yet to find a job.

The Portuguese has managed several top clubs over the years and his experience would be needed at Stamford Bridge in time of chaos like now. However, is remains to be seen if Mourinho who once coached Chelsea could be called to lead the team once again.