Updated:
Apr 6, 2023 2:36 pm
After the dismissal of Graham Potter from Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard is back to take over as Chelsea’s Caretaker Boss, so it’s time to look at the candidates who could replace him as the permanent Chelsea Boss.
1. Julian Nagalsmann
After being dismissed by Bayern Munich on 24 March, the German is interested in managing in the Premier League. As well as Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues are keeping an eye out for him.
Interestingly, Nagalsmann only had a brief career as a player, as he had a succession of injuries that hindered his progress. His first job as a Manager was at Hoffenheim in 2016. The 35-year-old took the German side to Champions League qualification in his second season at the Club, after they avoided relegation from the Bundesliga.
RB Leipzig was when he really started to show his potential of being a top-class manager. Nagalsmann spent two years at the club, taking them to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019-20, where they fell at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
In the following season, they reach the final of the DFB-Porkal, which is the German edition of the FA Cup, where they lost 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund.
It was April 2021 when Bayern appointed Nagalsmann on a five-year deal, starting in July 2021. Despite claiming his first and only Bundesliga Title in 2021-22. The following season promised a lot from Nagalsmann and Bayern, especially after claiming another Super Cup Title, however, the German was dismissed from the club post the International break in March, due to an ill-timed holiday, and a misunderstanding with Sadio Mané, as the Senegal captain was unhappy about being benched for a Champions League tie against PSG.
Will Nagalsmann be able to keep a cool head at Chelsea?
2. Luis Enrique
Another person in serious talks with the club is the former Barcelona and Spain manager. Enrique spent three seasons at the Catalan club, where he picked up two La Liga titles, three Coppa Del Reys, one Spanish Super Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one World Club Cup, and the Champions League.
After leaving Barca at the end of the 2016-17 season, Enrique was announced as the Head Coach of the Spanish National Team and replaced Fernando Hierro, who replaced Julian Lopetegui just before the Russia World Cup in June 2018. Enrique took Spain to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, where they fell at the hands of Roberto Mancini’s Italy, who went on to become champions of that tournament.
AS Roma and Celta Vigo were not as successful for the Spaniard, as he failed to get them a place in Europe. Although he had one season at Vigo, he managed to pull off some notable victories against Real Madrid in 2014, which ultimately handed Barca their 23rd La Liga Title.
Enrique left his role as Spain’s Head Coach, following their humiliating World Cup exit to Morocco in the Round of 16.
It is reported that the Spaniard is interested in the Blues, but will the owner be willing to see a bit of ‘Tiki Taka’ at the Bridge?
3.Mauricio Pochettino
Perhaps an unlikely target, given that Spurs are planning a reunion with Poch in the summer, but could the Blue somehow tempt him to come to West London?
Pochettino had a terrific time with Spurs, guiding them to a Premier League Runners-Up finish in 2016-17. They also reached the Champions League Final in 2018, where they lost to six times Champions Liverpool.
However, a poor start to the following season led to his departure from the club in November 2019.
Moving to Paris Saint Germain in January 2021 looked like an interesting move for the Argentine, and it seemed to have worked wonders when the French giants won the Coup de France(French Cup). This was soon followed by PSG’s 10th Ligue 1 Title.
However, in the following season, things did not go well for the club, as he struggled to gain control of the dressing room and his players. This was one of the main reasons that led to his downfall at the Parisian club and on 5th July 2022, it was announced that he left the club by mutual consent, and is now looking for his next job. Can the Blues persuade him to come to Stamford Bridge?
4. Zinedine Zindane
Another unlikely candidate could be the former Real Madrid boss. Zidane, who was once a player for the club, won two La Liga Titles, three Champions Leagues, two Spanish Super Cups, a European Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
This is the second Premier League Club that the Frenchman has turned down after being approached by Manchester United in November 2021.
Former French teammate Emmanuel Petit insists that Zidane will definitely not manage Chelsea.
“Zidane, he won’t come. Definitely. Do you know why? Because he doesn’t speak English. That’s the truth because I have known Zidane for ages and the way he manages players, he’s very close, he always talks to his players. So he wants the communication being a priority. Very important for him, he doesn’t want someone to translate everything he has to say publicly,”
Petit: The Chelsea Chronicle
This is a fair point because he has never played in the Premier League, so he may find it difficult to deliver his team talks and interviews, unless he has a translator like Bielsa had at Leeds United.
So these are the top four candidates for the next permanent Chelsea boss, who will arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer?
Find out on World in Sport.
