Chelsea may have a different owner now, but they maintain the same trigger happiness when it comes to firing managers. Thomas Tuchel was asked earlier today, and in the end, he lasted just 18 days longer than his predecessor, Frank Lampard. Tuchel was a lot more successful than Lampard though, having won the UEFA Champions League just five months into his tenure, and two more trophies to boot.
He also reached five different finals in less than two seasons. However, his team got off to a rough start this season, spending much of the early days on the second page of the Premier League standings.
The shocking upset loss to Dinamo Zagreb yesterday, in their Champions League opener, proved to be the final straw that broke the camel’s back. What Tuchel said in his post match press conference didn’t help either. The German basically said that pretty much everything is wrong with the club right now and that the team lacks hunger on drive.
That’s on him, almost entirely, so he gave a pretty damning self-assessment right there.
The official club statement reads: “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.”
So with Tuchel now officially gone, new owner Todd Boehly now has a manager search on his hands.
Coaching candidates include Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane, among others.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.