With just a single win in 2023, Graham Potter appears to be living on borrowed time as Chelsea manager. Their 2-0 loss to Spurs means the Blues have won just twice in 16 games.
Hopes were high for Potter, who was rewarded the opportunity to coach Chelsea due to his good work at Brighton, but so far he has failed to replicate those positive results at Stamford Bridge as they languish in 10th in the Premier League table.
Chelsea’s recent results, including an ongoing six-game winless streak, would have almost certainly resulted in a near-instant sacking for any manager under the previous regime of Roman Abramovich, but Todd Boehly seems determined to do things differently and seems intent on giving Potter time in a bid to mirror Arsenal’s patience, and ensuing success, with Mikel Arteta.
Regardless, if Potter continues to deliver poor results, Boehly may have no choice but to pull the trigger.
Here are five candidates Chelsea could turn to in that event:
Mauricio Pochettino
The Argentinian’s name popped up as a potential coach when Thomas Tuchel was relieved of his duties last year, and the same has happened here with pressure beginning to pile on Potter.
Pochettino has been out of work since a luckless spell in charge of Paris Saint Germain ended last summer, and Chelsea would undoubtedly consider him should Potter be shown the door.
They may face competition for his signature should Spurs manager Antonio Conte depart from north London at the end of this season, as Spurs will surely race to recapture the manager who took them to a Champions League final.
Zinedine Zidane
There are few managers, if any, in the world that Chelsea could lure to Stamford Bridge that has a resume as impressive as Zidane’s.
The Frenchman has been elusive since finishing his second spell as coach of Real Madrid in 2021, apparently rebuking a number of offers from the likes of PSG and the United States national team, with his heart set on managing the French national side. But with Didier Deschamps recently confirmed to be staying on, Zidane may have to dip his toes back in the club game.
His approach, both as a manager and tactically, may not be the right fit for the project that Chelsea are about to embark on. But that might not matter. When you have a chance to sign a manager who won three Champions League titles in a row, it’s pretty hard to say no.
Luis Enrique
Another free agent, Luis Enrique stepped down as Spain manager after a round of 16 exit at the hands of Morocco at the 2022 World Cup. His Spain side previously impressed at Euro 2020, playing with a club-like cohesion. The Spaniard has also amassed an impressive collection of trophies during his time at Barcelona, winning the Champions League, two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey.
It has been six years since his last job in club football, and not having managed in the Premier League before could count against him in the interview process.
Despite that, Enrique has a proven ability of managing big sides and is tactically astute enough to engineer a turnaround at Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho
In a surprising, yet equally unsurprising turn of events, oddsmakers have positioned twice-former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as a potential replacement for Potter.
The Portuguese coach, whose CV features a stunning amount of trophies – including three Premier League titles with Chelsea – could very well be tempted back for a third stint in west London.
The Roma coach has been in Italy since 2021, having been the inaugural winners of the Europa Conference League in 2022.
Diego Simeone
Simeone parting ways with Atletico Madrid has seemed unimaginable, but with his contract expiring this summer, and his relationship with the execs behind the scenes at the Metropolitano apparently taking a turn for the worse, we may see the last of “El Cholo” at Atleti.
Boehly may be reluctant to sign someone whose tactical perception is so negative, but Simeone has the skills and sharpness to provide Chelsea with a short-term fix and steady the ship.
It would be an interesting move if it were to happen soon, given that Joao Felix has only just escaped the Argentinian after their relationship reached a nadir.
