Mauricio Pochettino of Argentina at a press conference during a spring training camp in Doha, Qatar, May 15, 2022. /CFP
Chelsea hired Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager on Monday as the Argentine accepted the daunting task of reviving the troubled Premier League club.
Pochettino agreed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year and will return to the Premier League four years after being sacked by Chelsea's London rivals Tottenham.
The 51-year-old had been out of work since being dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain in July 2022.
"Mauricio is a world-class coach with an outstanding track record. We are all looking forward to having him on board," Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said in a statement.
Frank Lampard, caretaker manager of Chelsea, acknowledges the fans after his final game in charge in the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in London, England, May 28, 2023. /CFP
Pochettino, who will begin his new role on July 1, replaces Frank Lampard after the former England midfielder returned to Chelsea as caretaker boss until the end of the season.
Lampard was Chelsea's third manager of a dismal campaign that featured Boehly sacking Thomas Tuchel in September and then axing his successor Graham Potter in April after less than seven months in charge.
Pochettino emerged as the favorite after Chelsea held talks with the former Spain manager Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked by Bayern Munich in March.
Pochettino verbally agreed to take charge at Chelsea in April, but the appointment was put on hold until the end of the season.
With the Blues wrapping up their lacklustre Premier League campaign with a draw against Newcastle on May 28, Pochettino flew into England to officially seal the deal.
Pochettino will arrive at Stamford Bridge to find a club in crisis after ending the season 12th in the Premier League, their first bottom half finish since 1996.
They also lost to Manchester City in the Football Association Cup and League Cup and made a limp Champions League quarter-final exit against Real Madrid.