Mauricio Pochettino has parted ways with Chelsea by mutual consent. The decision came after a series of meetings between Pochettino, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and co-owner Behdad Eghbali, which concluded on Tuesday.

Pochettino expressed his gratitude to Chelsea in a statement: “Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history. The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”

Chelsea’s sporting directors also paid tribute to Pochettino’s contributions: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”

According to reports, Chelsea is already working on a list of potential replacements, targeting a “young, progressive coach.” Names such as Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, Girona’s Michel, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, and Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca have emerged as possible candidates. This marks the fourth managerial search for Chelsea since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over the club.

Pochettino departs after guiding Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, securing a return to European football. Despite the mutual parting, it is understood there is no ill will between Pochettino and Chelsea officials. The decision appears to stem from Pochettino’s concerns about working within the club’s structure rather than any specific disagreements over player sales.

As Chelsea prepares for a busy summer transfer window, the hunt for a new manager is now a top priority. The club is expected to focus on acquiring a striker, a center-back, and a left-back to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season.