Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach from July 1.
The Blues have been searching for a new permanent boss after parting company with Graham Potter at the start of April. And while Todd Boehly moved swiftly to install club legend Frank Lampard as caretaker manager, the Londoners have been working hard behind the scenes to source Potter's long-term successor.
Pochettino has signed a two-year contract with an option of a third 12 months, and will be charged with improving Chelsea's form following a wretched season which ended with them finishing 12th in the Premier League after losing 16 league matches across the course of the campaign.
Club owners Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, José E. Feliciano, Mark Walter and Hansjörg Wyss said: "The sporting team conducted a diligent and thoughtful process that the board is proud of.
"We are delighted that Mauricio will be joining Chelsea. Mauricio is a world-class coach with an outstanding track record. We are all looking forward to having him on board."
Pochettino, who had a hugely successful five-year spell in charge of Tottenham, has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last July after his failure to deliver the Champions League crown that the club hierarchy craved.
The 51-year-old has been linked with numerous high-profile roles since then, but is now back in the Premier League after signing a contract to replace departing interim boss Lampard.
Pochettino will be tasked with overseeing the summer transfer window, where cutting down Chelsea's bloated squad is likely to feature highly on his agenda.
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, said: "Mauricio’s experience, standards of excellence, leadership qualities and character will serve Chelsea Football Club well as we move forward.
"He is a winning coach, who has worked at the highest levels, in multiple leagues and languages. His ethos, tactical approach and commitment to development all made him the exceptional candidate."
Pochettino will have to build the Blues back up following a turbulent season which cost both Potter and his predecessor Thomas Tuchel their jobs. Lampard has failed to steady the ship since taking charge last month, with the Blues finishing the season in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
