Former Tottenham and PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has been announced as Chelsea’s new head coach on a three-year contract, with an option to extend for another year.
The 51-year-old Argentine will take charge of Chelsea from 1 July 2023, replacing Frank Lampard who has been interim manager since Graham Potter was sacked in April.
Chelsea said in a statement that Pochettino was their top choice and the only candidate they interviewed for the job.
He will work alongside sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, who praised his credentials and vision.
“Mauricio has proven himself as a top-class coach at the highest level, in different leagues and languages. His philosophy, tactics and dedication to development made him stand out as the ideal candidate,” they said.
“He is a winner who has worked with some of the best players in the world. His standards of excellence, leadership skills and personality will benefit Chelsea Football Club as we look ahead.”
Pochettino faces a tough challenge at Stamford Bridge Pochettino becomes Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years under Todd Boehly-Clearlake capital ownership, who bought the club last year.
He inherits a squad that has underperformed this season, finishing 12th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for Europe.
Chelsea also suffered early exits from both domestic cups and were knocked out by Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Pochettino will need to overhaul a large and expensive squad that has cost close to £600m in new signings in the past year.
He will also need to win over some sceptical fans who still remember his time at Tottenham, where he led them to their first Champions League final in 2019.
Pochettino has been out of work since leaving PSG last summer, where he won two trophies in his short spell.
He previously managed Espanyol and Southampton before joining Spurs in 2014.
