Chelsea’s four-man shortlist for the club’s managerial vacancy has been finalised with all of the names now known.
Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca have all been reported to be on it.
However, there was also a fourth mystery name that had not been revealed, but that figure is now known.
Chelsea started their search for a new manager earlier this week after Mauricio Pochettino left the club by mutual consent on Tuesday.
It would now not be a surprised if someone was appointed soon.
Final name on Chelsea’s four-man shortlist
Chelsea have gone for another manager with Premier League experience for the last spot on their shortlist like Frank.
According to journalist Kaveh Solhekol, that man is former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi.
On X, Solhekol posted: “Final shortlist for Chelsea head coach job: De Zerbi, Frank, Maresca, McKenna. No Xavi.
“List reflects desire to appoint a dynamic, forward thinking and progressive coach who fits in with the club’s ideology and has experience of coaching in English football at high level.”
Should Chelsea appoint Roberto De Zerbi?
Looking at their shortlist, it is a no-brainer. De Zerbi is familiar with the Premier League and did a terrific job at Brighton, guiding them to sixth last season. Jurgen Klopp said it was quite “impressive” the way the Seagulls adapted to his methods.
Of course, Frank has not done too badly at Brentford either, keeping them in the English top flight since their promotion in 2021, but De Zerbi would bring such a good style of football to Stamford Bridge. You only have to look at how his Brighton team played to know that.
For example, they were a very dominant side this term, recording a ball possession average of 60.2%. It was the fourth highest in the division and higher than Chelsea’s (59%), according to WhoScored.
De Zerbi is available as well after leaving Brighton in a similar fashion to how Pochettino departed Chelsea and has worked with Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk before. The Italian, then, really should be the Blues’ next manager.