Chelsea Football Club is in the midst of a managerial crisis, following the sacking of Graham Potter by owner Todd Boehly. The Blues are currently without a permanent manager, and in the meantime, former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has been brought back to take charge of the team until the end of the season. However, reports suggest that Boehly is seeking a long-term replacement for Potter, and has reached out to two high-profile names – Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo – about taking over the Stamford Bridge vacancy.
Mourinho, who is currently in charge of Serie A side AS Roma, has a long history with Chelsea Football Club. He first took charge of the club in 2004, following his success at Porto, where he won the Champions League. Mourinho’s first stint in charge of the West Londoners was a trophy-laden one, to say the least. He guided the Blues to two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and two League Cup trophies. However, his time at Chelsea was not without controversy, and he left Stamford Bridge in September 2007 following a series of disagreements with former owner Roman Abramovich.
Six years later, Mourinho returned to Chelsea for a second stint as manager. He guided the Blues to a league and cup double in the 2014-15 season. However, his second love affair with the club ended in dismissal in September 2015 as he was axed following a dire run of nine defeats in 15 league matches.
Despite this history, Mourinho remains one of the most successful managers in Chelsea’s history. His return to the club for a third time would be truly remarkable, and fans will undoubtedly be excited at the prospect of seeing him back at Stamford Bridge.
Of course, Mourinho is not the only name in the frame for the Chelsea job. Reports suggest that the Blues brass have also reached out to Nuno Espirito Santo about the job. Santo, who is currently without a job after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2021, has previously impressed in the Premier League. During his time at Wolves, he guided the team to two consecutive seventh-place finishes and a Europa League quarter-final.
It remains to be seen who will ultimately take over as Chelsea’s permanent manager, but with Mourinho and Santo reportedly in the mix, fans will be eagerly watching to see how the situation develops. In the meantime, Frank Lampard will be focused on doing the best he can to turn around Chelsea’s fortunes in the short term. The Blues currently find themselves in dire straits following Potter’s axing, toiling in 11th place in the league and 13 points off the Champions League places.
Shortly after his appointment was confirmed, Lampard said: “I’m not getting ahead of myself. I want to do the best I can to impact the club in this period and we will see what happens afterwards.”
Regardless of who takes over as Chelsea’s permanent manager, the club faces a number of challenges in the coming months. The Blues have struggled in the Premier League this season, and are currently facing a battle to qualify for the Champions League. In addition, the club’s ownership situation remains somewhat uncertain, with Todd Boehly taking over from Roman Abramovich as the club’s major shareholder in 2021.
Despite these challenges, Chelsea remains one of the biggest clubs in world football, with a rich history and a passionate fan base. Whether it’s Mourinho, Santo, or another manager who takes over as the club’s permanent boss, they will be expected to deliver success and restore Chelsea to their place at the top of the game.
