Chelsea sack Champions League-winning boss Thomas Tuchel after 100 games in charge
Chelsea have sacked head coach Thomas Tuchel after a poor start to the season.
The Blues are sixth in the Premier League after winning three, drawing one and losing two of their opening six domestic fixtures.
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Their slow start to the season continued in Croatia last night after they lost 1-0 against Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group match.
Tuchel guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in his debut season at the club and followed the club’s monumental victory up by lifting the European Super Cup.
The German head coach also led the Blues to the FA Cup and Carabao Cup final last term, losing against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on both occasions.
After reaching a century in charge of the London club, Chelsea announced on Wednesday morning that they have parted company with Tuchel.
A club statement read: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the Club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club. Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.
“As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the Club, and as it continues its hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe it is the right time to make this transition.
“Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the Club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach.
“There will be no further comment until a new head coach appointment is made.”
New owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali paid a world-record sports franchise £4.25billion to buy Chelsea from Russian billionaire Abramovich at the end of May.
Chelsea spent an absolute fortune in the summer transfer window as Tuchel was reunited with his former Borussia Dortmund player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Tuchel played a key role in Chelsea’s recruitment this summer, with Boehly acting as interim sporting director as well as chairman.
The former Paris Saint-Germain coach also steered Chelsea through the mire of UK Government sanctions from March to May last season.
The Blues’ search for a new sporting director continues, with former Liverpool supremo Michael Edwards still the long-term target.
Now the Blues need a new manager at the Stamford Bridge helm, with Brighton boss Graham Potter and former PSG and Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino among the early candidates.
Sky Sports reported shortly after Tuchel’s sacking that the club will contact Brighton later today to speak to Potter about the managerial vacancy.
Potter replaced Chris Hughton at the Amex in 2019 and helped guide the Seagulls to their highest finish in the Premier League last term, ending the season in ninth.
Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella left Albion for Chelsea in the summer transfer window for around £60millon.
Should Potter make the most to west London, he will be reunited with Brighton’s player of the season for 2021/22.
