According to reports, Chelsea has reduced the number of managers on their shortlist to four.
A “mystery coach” is one of the four candidates Chelsea reportedly dropped in order to finalize their managerial shortlist.
After just one season at Stamford Bridge, the Blues and Mauricio Pochettino parted ways, with the announcement made on Tuesday night.
After a thrilling finish to the season, Pochettino led Chelsea to sixth place in the Premier League despite a wildly unpredictable and uneven campaign.
But now that Todd Boehly owns the team, they are searching for a new manager.
Numerous names have been associated with the position, but according to a recent report from The Telegraph, only four remain.
The search is being led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, but an update indicates that they hope to name a new manager before June arrives.
Although they were previously discussed, it is believed that Sebastian Hoeness and Michel from Stuttgart and Girona were taken off the shortlist.
Thomas Frank, Kieran McKenna, and Enzo Maresca are still very much in the running, and there may be one more candidate that is not yet known.
Despite the current situation at Stamford Bridge, it is said that all three of the aforementioned players would be willing to accept jobs. They all have a large following within the Chelsea hierarchy.
Maresca has ties to Chelsea because he was employed by City’s head of recruitment, Joe Shields, who also coached Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer while serving as the Under 23 team’s manager.
After leading Leicester City to a spectacular Championship title-winning campaign, he has just led the team back into the Premier League.
There is rumored to be an £8.5 million release clause in the contract of the former Parma manager.
The team is looking for a manager that prioritizes playing attractive football, but as of this writing, there isn’t a front-runner for the job.
Pochettino made a brief statement on his departure. Pochettino is expected to manage in the Saudi Pro League.
“I am grateful for the chance to be a part of this football club’s history,” he said, addressing the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors. The team is now in a strong position to continue improving in the upcoming years in both the Premier League and Europe.
