It’s now being widely reported that Chelsea have narrowed it down to four candidates in their search for the club’s next head coach.
The Blues are conducting a process to find the successor to Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent on Tuesday after just one season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Telegraph claimed on Thursday afternoon that Chelsea are now looking at a four-man shortlist for their next manager. Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, plus an unknown name have made the final shortlist. Apparently, the Blues have cooled interest in Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Girona’s Michel.
Chelsea shortlist mystery manager
Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol also reports on X that Chelsea have narrowed it down four individuals to succeed Pochettino.
He’s added that the mystery fourth manager is a ‘high profile’ name.
Chelsea have been no strangers in the past to welcoming some of the biggest names in management to the dugout.
The likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Antonio Conte, Rafael Benítez and Luiz Felipe Scolari have previously coached the club.
However, this is a new ownership group at Stamford Bridge that has been going about things their own way in the last two years.
What do Chelsea want?
From three of the names on Chelsea’s four-man shortlist, it’s pretty evident that the club are looking to put their faith in a young manager. Of course, that could all change once the name of the ‘high profile’ fourth target comes out in the media.
The Chelsea Chronicle feels like Pochettino was the right blend of manager to work with this very young squad of players. In fact, five consecutive wins in his final matches as Chelsea boss is a sign everything was starting to click into gear.
That is what makes his exit so frustrating!
Chelsea fans should get behind whoever Pochettino’s successor is, but the fear is the job is going to someone much less experienced at the top level.