Chelsea agree terms with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as manager
The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager will take over from Frank Lampard, who will remain in charge until the end of the season.
Pochettino, 51, has been out of work since leaving PSG in summer 2022, after winning the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France in his only full season in charge.
He had previously led Spurs to the 2019 Champions League final, where they lost to Liverpool, and finished as Premier League runners-up in 2016-17.
Chelsea have had a turbulent season, sacking Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter earlier in the campaign, and appointing club legend Lampard as interim manager in April.
The Blues are currently 11th in the table, with only one win in their last 11 games, and have been eliminated from both domestic cups and the Champions League.
Pochettino will be tasked with reviving Chelsea's fortunes and challenging for silverware next season.
He will also have to deal with a large and expensive squad, which he may look to trim and reshape in the summer transfer window.
The Argentine said he was delighted to join Chelsea and thanked the club's owner Roman Abramovich for his trust and support.
He also praised Lampard for his work and said he was looking forward to working with the players and staff.
"I am very happy and excited to be the new head coach of Chelsea," Pochettino said. "It is a great honour and a huge challenge to join such a prestigious club with so much history and tradition.
I have always admired Chelsea from afar and I have a lot of respect for their fans and their culture.
"I would like to thank Mr Abramovich and the board for their confidence and their backing. I know they have high expectations and I will do everything in my power to meet them. I would also like to thank Frank Lampard for his professionalism and his dedication.
He is a legend of this club and he has done a fantastic job in difficult circumstances.
"I can't wait to start working with the players and the staff. We have a talented and diverse group of players, with a lot of quality and potential.
I want to create a team that plays with passion, intensity and flair, and that the fans can fall in love with.
I am confident that together we can achieve great things and make Chelsea proud."
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said Pochettino was the club's first choice and that he had the experience and vision to lead the club forward.
She also thanked Lampard for his contribution and wished him well for the future.
"We are delighted to welcome Mauricio Pochettino to Chelsea," Granovskaia said.
"He is one of the most respected and admired managers in the world, and he has a proven track record of success at the highest level.
He has the experience and the vision to take our club to the next level and to compete for the biggest trophies in the game.
"We have been following his work for a long time and we are confident that he is the right person to lead our project and to bring out the best in our players.
He shares our ambition and our philosophy, and he has a clear plan for how he wants to play and how he wants to develop our squad.
"We would also like to thank Frank Lampard for his service and his commitment.
He has shown great character and leadership in a very challenging situation, and he has always put the club first.
He is a true gentleman and a Chelsea legend, and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours."
