Next Chelsea manager: Ex-Bayern Munich boss early frontrunner with former Liverpool, Barcelona and Spurs men in contention

Julian Nagelsmann is the odds-on favourite to become the next Chelsea manager following Graham Potter’s departure on Sunday evening.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion boss was the second top flight manager to lose his job on Sunday, after Leicester City parted ways with Brendan Rodgers earlier in the day.

Bruno Saltor will take charge at Chelsea as interim head coach until the Blues find a permanent replacement - and their third manager of the campaign. He is likely to be in charge against Liverpool on Tuesday with the Blues facing Wolves this weekend.

Co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said of the decision: “On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to thank Graham sincerely for his contribution to Chelsea. We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome.

“Along with our incredible fans, we will all be getting behind Bruno and the team as we focus on the rest of the season. We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter final ahead. We will put every effort and commitment into every one of those games so that we can end the season on a high.”

Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel after the German was surprisingly sacked by the club earlier in the season. Tuchel is now back in work after replacing Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich last week.

Nagelsmann was reportedly contact by Tottenham Hotspur last week over their managerial vacancy following the sacking of Antonio Conte.

He shot to prominence with 1899 Hoffenheim as he was appointed at the club ahead of the 2016-2017 season. He was just 29-years-old when he took charge of his first game.

He moved to RB Leipzig in 2019 before Bayern appointed him as manager in 2021. He won the Bundesliga title last season. The club are one point behind Borussia Dortmund after 25 games this term while Bayern are also in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

He retired from playing at 20, due to injuries. Prior to his retirement, he revealed Chelsea legend John Terry was his idol. The former player is regarded as one of the best central defenders of the Premier League era.

He made 717 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club, lifting the Premier League title five times and scoring 67 goals.

Nagelsmann told the Times in 2021: “John Terry. It was crazy, because when I was a youth player I played with [close friend] Christian Trasch. I called him Patrick - Patrick Vieira - because he played No 6 and he called me John Terry, ‘Johnny’.

“In those days, Terry was one of the best central defenders - I think there was one season he did not lose one duel. He was brave with his head. I was good with my feet but better with my head, and there were some similarities, he was kind of a role model.”

Next Chelsea manager odds

Julian Nagelsmann - 1/3

Bruno Saltor - 9/2

Brendan Rodgers - 6/1

Luis Enrique - 14/1

Mauricio Pochettino - 14/1

Zinedine Zidane - 14/1

Jose Mourinho - 16/1

Roberto De Zerbi - 16/1

Diego Simeone - 20/1

John Terry - 20/1

Ruben Amorim - 20/1

Thomas Frank - 20/1