Chelsea have begun the search for their ninth permanent manager in ten years after parting company with German head coach Thomas Tuchel.
The former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund boss was in charge of the blues for a little over 18 months and guided them to the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in that spell.
The Blues have won three, lost two and drawn one of their opening six Premier League games this season and suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia in the opening game of their UEFA Champions League group stage last night.
A statement from Chelsea confirmed that Tuchel had departed the club, thanked him and his staff for their efforts and added: “Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the Club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach.”
Already, speculation is rife as to who will take over at Stamford Bridge with Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter the early favourite with oddsmakers.
Former PSG and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is second favourite while the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Brendan Rodgers are also in the market.
Here is how the betting odds look for the next permanent Chelsea FC manager just hours after Thomas Tuchel’s departure:
The Blues have won three, lost two and drawn one of their opening six Premier League games this season and suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia in the opening game of their UEFA Champions League group stage last night.
5. Diego Simeone - 25/1
The Argentine has had great success with Atletico Madrid over his 10 plus years in charge but would he be the sort of coach the Blues want and would he actually want the job? Hard to say
6. Jose Mourinho - 25/1
The new ownership at Chelsea makes a third spell in charge for the “Special One” more likely than before but he appears to be loving life at AS Roma for the time being Photo: Alex Pantling
7. Massimiliano Allegri - 25/1
Another highly successful coach who has been linked with the Chelsea vacancy in the past but this time looks less likely having only returned as Juventus manager over a year ago
8. Ange Postecoglou - 28/1
The Australian has Celtic playing some excellent football at the moment but is less than a year into his first head coach role in European football so is still somewhat unproven