BREAKING NEWS: Mauricio Pochettino Departs Chelsea By Mutual Consent After Lone Season In Charge

Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after just one season in charge.

Mauricio Pochettino was appointed by Chelsea last May after a lengthy recruitment process. The former Tottenham boss led the Blues to the Carabao Cup final and ended the season strongly to secure European football; leaving after less than 12 months in charge of the Stamford Bridge club.

A statement released on Tuesday read: "Chelsea FC can confirm that the club and Mauricio Pochettino have mutually agreed to part ways."

Assistant coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel d'Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino have also left.

Pochettino said: "Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club's history. The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come."

Pochettino was appointed last May after a lengthy recruitment process, replacing interim manager Frank Lampard, who arrived following Graham Potter's sacking in April 2023.

Chelsea spent more than £400m on new signings - many of them under the age of 25 - during the summer but also sold nearly £250m worth of players, with senior members of the dressing room such as Cesar Azpilicueta, N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic all leaving.

Pochettino led his youthful squad to the Carabao Cup final, and despite a season largely of struggles, ended the Premier League campaign with five successive wins and secured European football with a sixth-place finish. Chelsea had finished the 2022/23 campaign 12th.

After a final day win against Bournemouth, Pochettino said he did not know whether Chelsea would be conducting a reported end-of-season review to decide his future, but following talks on Monday, a decision was taken that he would step down.

The club's sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: "On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season.

"He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career."

The likes of Ipswich's Kieran McKenna, Leicester's Enzo Maresca, Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness and Girona boss Michel are reportedly on the Blues' list of possible replacements.

©Culled from Skysports.com