Mauricio Pochettino to Chelsea: ex-Tottenham manager’s career win record, style of play, salary, backroom team

The news has finally been announced that Mauricio Pochettino will be the new manager of Chelsea football club.

A club statement said: “Mauricio is a world-class coach with an outstanding track record. We are all looking forward to having him on baord.”

Pochettio, 51, will begin on 1 July 2023 on a two-year contract with an option of a further year. The Argentinian coach has been out of work since being sacked from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. He had been heavily linked with a return to former club Tottenham after Antonio Conte was relieved of his duties.

Chelsea sacked Thomas Tuchel and appointed Graham Potter within two days in September, following Todd Boehly’s takeover of the club, but just seven months later the former Brighton boss was sacked with Frank Lampard returning to Stamford Bridge in a caretaker capacity. Chelsea finished this season in 12th place. It is their first bottom-half finish sine 1995-96.

As Lampard prepares for his final few games in charge, here is all you need to know about the future Blues’ boss...

Mauricio Pochettino’s career record

Following a career as a centre-back where he played for Espanyol, Paris-Saint Germain, Bordeaux and back at Espanyol as well as making 20 appearances for Argentina, the 51-year-old began coaching with his former Barcelona-based team in 2009.

During his three years with the club, Pochettino secured a 32.92% win record before moving on to Southampton. Pochettino’s first win with the Saints was a 3-1 win over reigning champions Manchester City. In his first full season, the Argentinian led Southampton to an eighth place finish, their highest league position since 2002-03 while also recording the highest points tally since the Premier League began in 1992-93.

Following just one season, Pochettino was brought to Tottenham Hotspur where, during a five-and-half-year stint, he led the North London side to four consecutive top four-finishes in the Premier League and a Champions League final in 2019. Spurs were also the Football League Cup runners-up in 2015 under the Argentinian.

Pochettino was removed from his duties in November 2019 and just over a year later, he was appointed the manager of Paris Saint-Germain. During his 18 months in the French capital, Pochettino secured a 65.48% win record and won the League 1 title, Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions.

What is Pochettino’s style of play?

The Argentinian 51-year-old is known for high-pressing and an attacking style of football. He often uses a 4-2-3-1 formation and instructs his team to build from the back, intimidate and unsettle opponents with a quick-press system, working the ball into the box.

Throughout his coaching career, Pochettino has also been applauded by pundits for his focus on developing local players from the clubs’ youth academies, getting local government and references’ support. Players coached by the former Spurs boss have also praised his man-management style and guidance with his willingness to advise and encourage players to take charge of their own development.

Who will be in the backroom staff?

It is expected that Pochettino will bring his long-time assistant Jesus Perez, first-team coach Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez and his sport scientist son, Sebastiano, to Chelsea with him. Sebastiano also worked with his father during his time at Tottenham and PSG.

What is Pochettino’s salary expected to be?

AllSoccer have suggested that reports claim Chelsea will offer Pochettino £200,000 a week. This amounts to a monthly wage of £400,000 and a net salary of £10.4 million. One of his first wishes is also reportedly to ensure N’Golo Kante signs a new contract with the Blues.

Kante has been named as part of a five-man shortlist of players whom the Argentine is expected to try and keep at the club. While there had been links to Bayern Munich, PSG and Barcelona for the Frenchman, the 31-year-old has suggested he will stay with the Blues saying: “It’s an exciting project for the club.

“Unfortunately this season hasn’t been to Chelsea’s standards. But everyone wants to go in this way, the way of success and winning titles. I hope this club will again fight in this direction. Let’s see where I will be but I hope that this is a change for the club, that is most important.”