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Graham Potter handed Chelsea job after Thomas Tuchel sacking | Football News


Potter, 47, has agreed a five-year contract with the six-time English football champions.

Chelsea confirmed Graham Potter as their new coach on Thursday just over 24 hours after parting ways with Thomas Tuchel for six games during the Premier League season.

47-year-old Potter, who has enjoyed a brilliant reputation as a visionary coach at Brighton & Hove Albion, has agreed a five-year deal with the six-time England champion.

His appointment is a departure for a club that often chooses household names with experience at Europe’s top clubs, but it shows there is potential for a change of approach.

He is the first management appointee under new American president Todd Boehly, who took over three months ago.

“We are delighted to bring Graham to Chelsea. He is a proven coach and Premier League innovator who aligns with our vision for the Club,” Boehly said in a statement.

“Not only is he incredibly talented on the pitch, he has the skills and ability to go beyond the pitch to make Chelsea a more successful Club.

“We look forward to supporting him, his coaching staff and the team in reaching their full potential in the months and years to come.”

Tuchel, who won the Champions League for Chelsea a few months after replacing Frank Lampard in early 2021, left the club on Wednesday, following Chelsea’s surprise defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

tuchel
Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 [File: Susana Vera/Reuters]

Chelsea spent around £250 million ($287 million) in the summer transfer window but are sixth in the Premier League with 10 points from six games, losing to Leeds and Southampton.

The speed with which Potter has been installed as Tuchel’s replacement shows that Chelsea have kept an eye on the man who cut his teeth at Swedish club Ostersunds, taking them from fourth to the top flight for the first time and to Europe.

Potter assistant Billy Reid, first team coaches Bjorn Hamberg and Bruno Saltor, goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts and assistant head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay will join him at Chelsea.

His first assignment will come against local rivals Fulham on Saturday.

“I am incredibly proud and delighted to represent Chelsea FC, this amazing football club,” said Potter, who had a brief stint with Swansea City before taking over at Brighton in 2019.

“I am delighted to be partnering with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with an exciting group of players and developing a team and culture that our amazing fans enjoy. can be proud.”

Brighton sold full-back Marc Cucurella to Chelsea in the summer but despite not having the same budget as the league’s bigs, they have made a fantastic start, finishing fourth with four wins, one game. draw and one defeat after six games.

Last season, Brighton finished ninth, a club record at the top of the table, placing 15th and 16th respectively.

Flexible style

Potter’s versatile style of play, innovative coaching methods and attention to detail at Brighton have won many admirers, including Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

Not afraid to push players out of their comfort zone, he once had his Ostersunds players perform the Swan Lake ballet.

The Football Association even highly appreciates Potter as a potential future successor to England manager Gareth Southgate.

“He clearly has a clear idea about football and he’s doing an outstanding job,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said of Potter a year ago. “He brought a clear identity of how he wanted his teams to play. He is an innovator and loves to take risks”.

His departure, along with his coaching staff, is a shock for Brighton, who have confirmed under-21s coach Andrew Crofts will be in charge of the weekend’s game against Bournemouth.

“I am very disappointed that Graham is leaving us,” said Brighton chairman Tony Bloom. “He has done very well the last three seasons, he is an excellent head coach and a special person. He will be greatly missed at our football club. “



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