Chelsea is searching for a new manager following their unexpected split from Mauricio Pochettino.
Todd Boehly and co are scouring the managerial market for Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement (Image: Getty
Super agent Jorge Mendes has put manager Sergio Conceicao of Porto up for consideration as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement. The Argentine’s contract, which had one year left on it and a 12-month extension option, was set to expire, Chelsea announced on Tuesday night, subject to mutual consent.
There are a few other external candidates for the position, but the Blues have a clear plan for their next move, which is to name a young head coach who is prepared to work within a structure.
After discussing a surprise deal for Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2022, Mendes became close with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly. Now, through the American billionaire, Mendes is pushing Conceicao’s services to Chelsea, according to The Mirror.
The 49-year-old has led Porto since 2017, collecting ten trophies in his illustrious career at the Estadio do Dragao. He recently signed a new contract that will keep him in charge of the team until the summer of 2028.
But since Pinto da Costa, the former president of Porto, oversaw its signing, it can be withdrawn, and more importantly, he can leave the Portuguese powerhouses without facing any financial repercussions.
After Porto’s recent presidential election, former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas took over Da Costa’s position. While he has openly backed Conceicao, formal talks about the latter’s future have not yet taken place and are not expected to happen until after Sunday’s Taca de Portugal final against Sporting.
In recent weeks, Conceicao has been tipped as a possible contender for the AC Milan position, and Marseille has also shown interest in hiring him.
Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, respectively, are interested in Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, but Chelsea insiders have not confirmed whether Conceicao is being considered for the position, according to the Mirror.
Co-owners Behdad Eghbali, Boehly, and Jose E. Feliciano will ultimately decide on Pochettino’s successor, despite the importance of the team’s knowledge, analysis, and insight. It’s known that Chelsea will probably avoid making a “fiery” appointment because the Stamford Bridge executives have strong opinions about how people interact within their organizational structure.
Additionally, they intend to continue having strong control over transfer operations. Conceicao is renowned for his sharpness and intense rivalry.
He filed a lawsuit against a mayor of Spain in March after his son was allegedly hit by the referee during an under-9s game. In 2021, following a confrontation between the Chelsea and Porto benches during a Champions League quarterfinal, he also got into a touchline altercation with Thomas Tuchel.
