Mauricio Pochettino to Chelsea: Managerial record, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur days

Chelsea are closing in on the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager. The former Tottenham Hotspur man as been identified as their permanent replacement for Graham Potter ahead of next season.

Frank Lampard is currently in caretaker charge until the end of this campaign but he has struggled to get results. Here is a look at their proposed new boss’ career to date...

Early days

Chelsea-bound Pochettino spent his playing career as a defender for the likes of Newell’s Old Boys, PSG, Bordeaux and Espanyol before hanging up his boots in 2006. He was handed his first managerial role by the latter three years left.

He was a hit with the La Liga side and spent two-and-a-half years in the dugout in Spain before Southampton lured him over to England for the first time. Eyebrows were raised when the Saints sacked Nigel Adkins mid-way through their first campaign back in the Premier League, especially after he guided them to back-to-back promotions from League One to the top flight.

However, their decision to bring in Pochettino was a masterstroke and he went on to win 38.33% of games in charge which results in a move to White Hart Lane before the 2014/15 season.

Tottenham heroics

He guided Spurs to the League Cup final in his first year at the helm but they were beaten by Chelsea in the final at Wembley. The Argentinian’s best achievement during his time in North London was reaching the Champions League final against the odds in 2019. However, his team were beaten by Liverpool in the final in Madrid.

Pochettino was a popular man and managed to get the best out of the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and even Dele Alli in his earlier years. His time with Spurs inevitably came to an end though just over six months after their Champions League exploits.

He returned to PSG as manager after his two-year stint in the French capital as a player and won the league last year before leaving. Chelsea are ready to bring him in now and he has unfinished business in this country.

Overall

Espanyol - 161 games: 53 wins, 38 draws, 70 losses: 32.92% win

Southampton - 60 games: 23 wins, 18 draws, 19 losses: 38.33% win

Spurs - 293 games: 159 wins, 62 draws, 72 losses: 54.27% win

PSG - 84 games: 55 wins, 15 draws, 14 losses: 65.48% win