Who will be next Chelsea manager? Club holds talks with Luis Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann
After parting ways with Graham Potter the Stamford Bridge hierarchy is considering a move for the former Bayern Munich boss.
Things move quickly at Chelsea. Just days after Graham Potter was dismissed as the club’s head coach, the second Chelsea boss to be sacked this season, the club have already held talks with candidates to replace him.
The Independent reports that Chelsea have already met with Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino as they continue their search for Potter’s replacement. However Julian Nagelsmann is considered the current favourite and the former Bayern Munich boss has also held talks with the club.
Chelsea have nothing left to play for in the Premier League, currently languishing in 11th position, but have a Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid on the horizon. Potter’s former assistant Bruno Saltor took charge of Tuesday’s drab 0-0 draw with Liverpool but the Stamford Bridge hierarchy is thought to be eager to bring in a more experienced replacement ahead of the trip to Madrid on Wednesday, 12 April.
Will Julian Nagelsmann be the next Chelsea manager?
Nagelsmann is currently the clear favourite to be named the next boss at Stamford Bridge and he is available having recently left Bayern. He is a young, ambitious coach but also has the elite level experience that Potter apepared to have lacked.
The 35-year-old has enjoyed a rollercoaster ride in his young coaching career. After being forced to retire as a player at the age of just 21, Nagelsmann began coaching in the academy at German side 1899 Hoffenhim, eventually rising to become head coach in 2016.
After a hugely successful spell at Hoffenheim he was rewarded with a move to RB Leipzig whom he took to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2020, becoming the youngest coach to do so.
In April 2021 Bayern Munich sprung Nagelsmann from his Leipzig contract for a world record managerial fee and he delivered a Bundesliga title in his first season. But after Bayern’s performances dipped in the league this season, conceding more than a goal a game, the club relieved him of his duties during the recent international break.
Nagelsmann is thought to be interested in a move to England but taking a job so soon after his chastening Bayern experience may be less appealing. There may also be a number of other top jobs available this summer, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain potentially parting company with their current coaches.
Chelsea’s current sporting director Laurence Stewart and technical director Christopher Vivell both worked with Nagelsmann at Leipzig and Sky Sports reports that the pair consider him a good fit for Chelsea’s talented but underutilised squad.