Chelsea are going through a rough patch under Graham Potter, and he could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge soon.
The Blues were defeated again at the weekend, this time by London rivals Tottenham. Despite their recent big-spending recruitment drive, Potter’s team is one of the lowest scorers in the Premier League.
If they lose to Leeds on Saturday, Todd Boehly and company may be forced to part ways with their English coach. We look at five potential replacements for the 47-year-old in West London.
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho is the name at the top of many Chelsea fans’ wish lists with the Roma boss said to be keen on a third stint at the five-time Premier League winners.
The Portuguese manager brought the Premier League title to Stamford Bridge twice, once in his first season and again in 2014-2015.
According to reports, the legendary manager wants to return to England one more time to win more silverware after failing to do so while in charge of Tottenham Hotspur.
With his family still living in London, it is not impossible that Chelsea’s most successful coach will return to the club that sacked him twice.
Mauricio Pochettino
It is no secret that Mauricio Pochettino spends a lot of time in England after being fired by Paris Saint-Germain in July.
Poch, the former Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur manager, was well known for his high-intensity, attacking football, particularly during his time in North London.
When it comes to his next job, the 50-year-old appears to be biding his time, but there is some excitement about what Pochettino could do with Chelsea’s young and talented squad.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Argentine is waiting for Antonio Conte to leave his beloved Tottenham Hotspurs in order to return to management in a familiar environment.
Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique’s tenure as coach of the Spanish national team came to an end when they were eliminated from the World Cup by Morocco.
The 2010 champions were expected to lift the trophy in Qatar, but they were eliminated on penalties in the last 16, leaving the former Barcelona manager looking for a new challenge.
The 52-year-old has not worked in club management since leaving Barcelona in 2017, but a position at Chelsea could tempt him to take on a challenge in the Premier League.
If given the time and resources, Luis Enrique is a tactical expert capable of developing the Blues into a well-oiled machine capable of challenging for honours.
Zinedine Zidane
It seems like an eternity since Zinedine Zidane led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles, but he could be tempted by a position at Chelsea.
The Frenchman has been linked with almost every top job in Europe since his departure from Los Blancos in 2021 — and for good reason.
His excellent man-management skills would be a welcome sight for West London fans this season, as the squad appears unsettled by so many new faces.
Zidane was said to be waiting patiently for the French national team job, but Didier Deschamps’ decision to remain in charge of Les Bleus may prompt the former midfielder to look for another way back into the dugout.
Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone, who spent 11 years as manager of Atletico Madrid and is a proven winner at the highest level, may be enticed by a new project.
In the Spanish capital, he has coached Atletico Madrid to the title ahead of LaLiga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2014 and 2021, as well as two trips to the Champions League final.
Simeone is well-known for his defensive tactics, but he is also an expert at game management, relying on counter-attacks to breach the opposition.
And, with a plethora of tools at his disposal in West London, the 52-year-old Argentine would be able to stamp his authority on this inexperienced squad.
