Chelsea find themselves in a very familiar position of searching for a new manager following Mauricio Pochettino’s exit from the club.
Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday that Mauricio Pochettino has left as Blues head coach by mutual consent, which means there will be the start of another new era at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino, 52, completed one full season in west London, but has gone out the doors halfway into a two-year contract.
It’s quite telling that The Independent claims that Pochettino is already attracting interest from three giant European clubs.
What Chelsea are looking for in next manager
HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey, who spoke exclusively to The Chelsea Chronicle, has provided some details on what the Blues hierarchy are searching for with their managerial candidates.
Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the Chelsea co-sporting directors, already know the type of manager profile they want.
Bailey said: “They want young. Someone focused on the project, committed, long-term. Someone more of a head coach. They want to go down the younger manager route.
“Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have been doing their due diligence already. They’ll have have a good idea of who they want. They’ll have a good idea of who’s available.
“It’s going to be someone up and coming, talented, let’s see who they pump for.”
Who fits that bill?
From the managers that have been linked with Chelsea in the last 24 hours, Bailey is pretty spot on that the club are targeting younger coaches.
For example, 38-year-old Kieran McKenna is rumoured to be a possible candidate following back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League with Ipswich Town in the last two years. Also, 44-year-old Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca has been linked with the Blues after Championship promotion this season.
The Telegraph previously named Ipswich’s McKenna and Leicester’s Maresca as two of the four managers likely to be considered by Chelsea in their manager search.
Young manager for the youngest squad
Transfermarkt records that Chelsea had the youngest average age of any squad in the Premier League during this 2023/24 season.
Here are the Premier League clubs with the top five youngest groups from the campaign: