CONTRASTING names like Kieran McKenna and Jose Mourinho are on a seven-man list of possible successors to Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
The Blues announced the end of Pochettino’s 12-month reign on Tuesday night, despite five straight wins earning sixth spot in the Premier League.
Ipswich’s promotion-winning chief McKenna was instantly mentioned, having already been linked with Manchester United and Brighton.
The 38-year-old is the youngest of a mostly youthful bunch of candidates.
The main exception is the “special” long-shot being talked of.
That of course is 61-year-old Mourinho, who won three Prem titles in his two previous stints as Stamford Bridge manager.
The ex-Red Devils and Real Madrid boss was axed from his last position, in charge of Roma, four months ago.
However, SportItalia claim the Portuguese is being lined up by Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadisiyah to become sporting director.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO had just started to turn Chelsea around.
An impressive run of end-of-season form saw the Blues leapfrog the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle to finish sixth in the Premier League – and earn a Europa League spot.
But it wasn’t enough to keep him in a job as it was announced on Tuesday evening that the Argentine had left.
Here are all Pochettino’s Stamford Bridge stats:
Premier League – 6th
FA Cup – Semi-finals (lost to Man City)
Carabao Cup – Runners-up (Lost to Liverpool)
Total record:
Games 51
Wins 26
Draws 11
Defeats 14
Goals for 103
Goals against 74
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Other managers touted for the Blues’ job include Leicester City’s Championship-winning chief Enzo Maresca, 44 and Stuttgart’s 42-year-old boss Sebastian Hoeness.
There’s also room on the list for two highly-rated coaches currently out of work.
Roberto De Zerbi, 44, might be regarded as the likelier candidate, having also been rated a potential contender for Old Trafford even before he left Brighton this week.
And former Bayern coach Hansi Flick, 59, has not been in management since being axed as Germany boss in September 2023.
Here’s our guide to seven men who just might be in contention for Stamford Bridge…
The former Manchester United assistant has led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
That has seen his stock shoot through the roof and he may be tempted to jump ship for a big job.
The Italian left Brighton at the end of the season after a year and a half in charge.
He was linked with a host of top jobs earlier in the campaign but a difficult run of results saw him fall out of contention for the likes of Liverpool.
De Zerbi’s attacking, front-foot style would be popular at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City and has worked wonders at Leicester, settling the ship to send the Foxes back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Appointing a Pep disciple has turned Arsenal into title contenders, so it could work for Chelsea too.
Flick was one of football’s most in-demand managers after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich. But it all went wrong in his next role becoming the first manager ever to be sacked by Germany.
Now he’s ready to return and could be a smart move for the Blues
Chelsea fans may not have heard of him, but Hoeness is Germany’s next big thing.
Hoeness has transformed Stuttgart from relegation candidates to the second best team in the Bundesliga, finishing above Bayern Munich.
Only invincible Bayer Leverkusen got in the way of a miracle.
Michel Sanchez has worked wonders with little Girona in Spain.
The minnows were right in the LaLiga title race at Christmas before watching Real Madrid shoot into the distance.
But they ran illustrious Catalan neighbours Barcelona all the way for second and are guaranteed a spot on the Champions League. Reports in Spain say that has caught Chelsea’s attention.
Still adored by fans at Stamford Bridge, who never warmed to former Spurs boss Pochettino, Mourinho would be a popular pick.
Winner of three Premier League with the Blues across two topsy-turvy spells, could he be the man to take Chelsea back to the top?
