Thomas Tuchel's contract with Chelsea has been extended after guiding the club to Champions League glory.
The German coach replaced Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge at the end of January and transformed the Blues' campaign, taking them from ninth to fourth in the Premier League and to both the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
Chelsea were victorious in the latter last month, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in Porto to lift the biggest prize in European football.
That success, football.london understands, triggered a one-year extension to the 18-month contract that Tuchel agreed to when he took charge in January.
However, Chelsea have confirmed today that the 47-year-old's deal will now run until the summer of 2024 after a two-year extension was agreed.
"I cannot imagine a better occasion for a contract renewal. I am grateful for the experience and very happy to stay part of the Chelsea family," Tuchel told the club's website. "There is far more to come and we are looking forward to our next steps with ambition and much anticipation.’
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: "When Thomas joined us in January there was still so much to play for domestically and in Europe. He slotted in seamlessly and immediately became an integral part of the Chelsea family.
"Returning us to the top four in the Premier League was crucial, and we could not be happier with our success in the Champions League which crowned a remarkable season at Chelsea.
"We are obviously extremely pleased therefore to retain Thomas for a further two years, and look forward to more achievements in the coming seasons."
Given Tuchel arrived mid-season and with the United Kingdom in full lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was not joined by his wife, Sissi, and two young daughters, who remained in Paris.
That will change this summer, however, with Tuchel set to move out of the hotel in which he's been residing and into a home near to the club's Cobham training ground.
“We will get a house in the middle of July,” Tuchel explained. “We come back and we go to Dublin for a training camp. After that, I will move into my house and my family will come over in August. Of course, this is a huge part [for me]."
After Chelsea's Champions League win, Tuchel spoke with Roman Abramovich for the first time out on the Estadio do Dragao pitch.
The two then met the following morning to discuss the club's plans for the summer transfer window and Tuchel's long-term ambitions at Stamford Bridge.
“I think it’s possible [to build an empire], Tuchel said. "It’s possible because the foundation is very, very strong. The belief, the determination of the club, the players, the group that they built is very strong.
“We have a group with a very strong bond, a genuine belief and a fantastic work ethic, so it’s still a young, inexperienced squad.
"The challenge now is to make this not too heavy for us, this huge success. Because they have this huge success very early in their careers and to keep them hungry. So this is now the challenge."
