Argentine-born coach Mauricio Pochettino has bid farewell to Chelsea FC after he surprisingly parted ways with the club by mutual consent on Tuesday, despite guiding the club to a sixth-place finish in the English Premier League (EPL).
Reports say the coach and Todd Boehly-led board agreed on terms to severe ties with immediate effect as the club now seeks to employ a younger manager as a priority.
Pochettino’s departure was confirmed in a statement issued by Chelsea Directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, who both wished the coach all the very best in his future coaching career.
“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we’d like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He’ll be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career”. The statement by the Directors read.
The club stated that Pochettino’s resignation, which was made official two days after a turbulent season came to an end, was decided by mutual consent, indicating scepticism on both sides.
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In his farewell message, the coach, who stepped down after only one season in charge, thanked the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to manage the club.
He said, “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.”
According to reports, Chelsea is currently reportedly actively seeking a dynamic manager, and owners and directors are reportedly debating multiple options internally.
Seb Hoeneß, who is highly regarded but entirely focused on coaching Stuttgart, is also rumoured to have been suggested internally, along with Thomas Frank of Brentford.
