Mauricio Pochettino has left his job as Chelsea manager by mutual consent, the Premier League side announced on Tuesday, ending the Argentine's reign at the club after one season despite a late revival in their fortunes.
Pochettino joined Chelsea ahead of the 2023-24 campaign when he replaced interim manager Frank Lampard as the club's new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital looked to freshen things up after a 12th-place finish during the previous season. The new owners also splashed out more than any club in Europe in the close season transfer window last year when they spent 400 million pounds ($508.28 million) on signings, before Pochettino came in.
File photo of Mauricio Pochettino. /CFP
The former Paris Saint Germain and Tottenhan Hotspur manager signed a two-year contract, with a club option of a further year, to become the club's third permanent manager under the new ownership after Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
The 52-year-old turned things around for the Blues in a turbulent season, as players returned from injury and they lost only one of their last 15 games, winning the last five in a row to soar to the sixth spot and qualify for the Europa League
Chelsea have qualified for the Conference League but will play in the Europa League if Premier League champions Manchester City win the FA Cup final against Manchester United on Saturday.
"On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season," sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a statement.
"He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career."
(With input from Reuters)