JUST IN: Pochettino set for new job at Stamford Bridge despite Chelsea sacking
Mauricio Pochettino left his position as Chelsea’s head coach by mutual consent following the team’s sixth-place Premier League result. But in a few weeks, he’ll be back at Stamford Bridge.
It was by mutual consent that Mauricio Pochettino, who had led Chelsea for just a single season, stepped down as head coach.
The Blues had a challenging season, but by the conclusion, they had begun to turn things around, as they finished sixth overall and moved into the European positions thanks to a run of five straight victories.
One year into his two-year contract in west London, the Chelsea management announced that the former Spurs manager had left the team, saying they had had enough.
Chelsea sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a statement: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
Pochettino, meanwhile, took the opportunity to thank the club in a brief statement: “Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history. The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
While Pochettino’s association with Chelsea has now come to an end, he will be back in the Stamford Bridge dugout in just a matter of weeks. The Argentine coach is set to manage the Rest of the World XI in the annual Soccer Aid match on June 9 in west London, in what could now be an awkward moment for the club and the manager.
Pochettino will be joined in the dugout by his long-time assistant Jesus Perez, who has also left Chelsea. In the opposite dugout will be another former Chelsea manager in Frank Lampard, who will be leading the England squad alongside his uncle Harry Redknapp and Robbie Williams.
Also in action will be former Blues stars Joe Cole and Gary Cahill – as well as a welcome return for Eden Hazard, who announced his retirement from football in October last year, four months after leaving Real Madrid.