Mauricio Pochettino has left his role as head coach of Chelsea Football Club by mutual consent, the club announced today, following an extensive review of the team’s performance over the 2023-24 season. This decision brings Pochettino’s tenure at Stamford Bridge to an end after less than a year in charge.

The review, led by Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, evaluated the team’s overall performance and trajectory under Pochettino’s leadership. Despite Chelsea’s sixth-place finish in the Premier League, which secures European football for the next season, and a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in what was Pochettino’s last game, the Argentine’s time with the club has been deemed insufficient to continue.

Having taken over in a turbulent period that saw Chelsea appoint six permanent managers in five years, Pochettino’s brief era followed the dismissals of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter and an interim period managed by Frank Lampard. Under Pochettino, Chelsea underwent a significant squad overhaul in the summer, spending over £400 million, but results have been mixed.

The team reached the final of the Carabao Cup, ultimately losing to Liverpool, and were eliminated by Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals. These outcomes, coupled with the high financial investment and only a moderate improvement in league performance, contributed to the decision for a managerial change.

Pochettino, who started his managerial career at Espanyol and had notable stints at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, had joined Chelsea after a spell at Paris Saint-Germain. At PSG, he won a Ligue 1 title and other domestic trophies but left after failing to make a significant impact in European competitions.

Chelsea’s leadership has expressed gratitude to Pochettino for his efforts and wished him well for the future. The search for a new head coach is underway as the club looks to rebuild and return to competing at the highest levels both domestically and in Europe.