Chelsea have a history of chopping and changing managers at a moment’s notice and nothing epitomises that more than the fact that, upon his appointment in May 2023, Mauricio Pochettino became the club’s fifth different manager in less than 12 months.
Thomas Tuchel began the 2022/23 campaign in charge before he was binned in September 2022 in order for Graham Potter to take over. The Englishman lasted just 31 games before he was sacked with the Blues in 11th place in the Premier League.
His assistant, Bruno Saltor, then became interim boss, but he lasted just one game before he was replaced by former head coach Frank Lampard.
READ: Premier League managers: Full list of current bosses as Spurs appoint Postecoglou
Lampard joined on an interim basis until the end of the 2022/23 season, but endured a torrid time back at Stamford Bridge. He won just one of his 11 matches in charge, with two draws and eight defeats along the way. Under his management, the Blues were also knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid and accumulated their lowest points tally in Premier League history.
In 2022, Chelsea also changed owners, with American billionaire Todd Boehly taking over following Roman Abramovich’s sale of the club.
Since his reign began, Boehly has spent over €1 billion on new players, including breaking the British transfer record twice, first bringing in Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January 2023 for €121m and then Moises Caicedo from Brighton in the summer of 2023 for €134m.
Ken Bates was the Chelsea owner before Abramovich, and with Bates, Abramovich and Boehly, Chelsea have consistently had a larger-than-life figure running the club, which has led to a lot of controversy and demand for results – hence the numerous managerial changes.
In total, Chelsea have had 34 different permanent managers in their history, with 16 since the year 2000.
Chelsea managers list
The record of every Chelsea manager in history
| Manager | From | To | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guus Hiddink | February 2009 | May 2009 | 73% |
| Jose Mourinho | June 2004 | September 2007 | 67% |
| Avram Grant | September 2007 | May 2008 | 67% |
| Antonio Conte | July 2016 | July 2018 | 65% |
| Maurizio Sarri | July 2018 | June 2019 | 62% |
| John Tait Robertson | August 1905 | November 1906 | 61% |
| Carlo Ancelotti | July 2009 | May 2011 | 61% |
| Thomas Tuchel | January 2021 | September 2022 | 60% |
| Jose Mourinho | June 2013 | December 2015 | 59% |
| Rafael Benitez | November 2012 | May 2013 | 58% |
| Roberto Di Matteo | March 2012 | November 2012 | 57% |
| Luiz Felipe Scolari | July 2008 | February 2009 | 56% |
| Claudio Ranieri | September 2000 | May 2004 | 54% |
| Gianluca Vialli | February 1998 | September 2000 | 53% |
| Frank Lampard | July 2019 | January 2021 | 52% |
| Ruud Gullit | May 1996 | February 1998 | 49% |
| Andre-Villas Boas | June 2011 | March 2012 | 48% |
| Tommy Docherty | October 1961 | October 1967 | 47% |
| Bobby Campbell | March 1988 | May 1991 | 47% |
| Dave Sexton | October 1967 | October 1974 | 44% |
| Geoff Hurst | September 1979 | April 1981 | 43% |
| John Neal | May 1981 | June 1985 | 41% |
| David Calderhead | August 1907 | May 1933 | 40% |
| John Hollins | June 1985 | March 1988 | 39% |
| Graham Potter | September 2022 | April 2023 | 39% |
| Eddie McCreadie | April 1975 | July 1977 | 38% |
| Ted Drake | June 1952 | September 1961 | 37% |
| Guus Hiddink | December 2015 | June 2016 | 37% |
| Leslie Knighton | May 1933 | April 1939 | 34% |
| Ian Porterfield | June 1991 | February 1993 | 34% |
| Glenn Hoddle | June 1993 | May 1996 | 34% |
| Billy Birell | April 1939 | May 1952 | 33% |
| Ron Suart | October 1974 | April 1974 | 24% |
| Ken Shellito | July 1977 | December 1978 | 23% |
| Danny Blanchflower | December 1978 | September 1979 | 16% |
| Mauricio Pochettino | July 2023 | Present | 50% |
Who is the current Chelsea manager?
Mauricio Pochettino is the current Chelsea manager. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss was appointed in May 2023 after Lampard’s dismal interim spell. He signed a two-year contract at the club after agreeing to take over at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino’s most recent job was at Paris Saint-Germain in France. He boasted a 68% win rate at the Parc des Princes, but was sacked in 2022. He had previously spent five years as Tottenham’s manager. Before his spell at Spurs, he was previously in charge at Southampton and Espanyol.