The Argentine coach met with Chelsea's new owners and the two parties decided to part ways
Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino have decided to part ways at the end of the Premier League after only one season of the Argentine gaffer's initial two-year contract.
The decision was made after Pochettino met with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, as well as co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali.
Pochettino leaves Chelsea by mutual consent
Pochettino's tenure at Chelsea, which lasted one year of the two-year contract he signed last summer, was marked by mixed results. Despite a strong finish to the season with five consecutive wins that secured European qualification, Chelsea's overall performance fell short of pre-season expectations.
The Argentine manager guided the team to the final of the Carabao Cup and the semi-final of the FA Cup but failed to win either. A crippling injury list and inconsistent performances from young and senior players throughout the season contributed to the below-par season for the Blues, which eventually ended with Pochettino leaving the club.
Chelsea search for sixth manager in two seasons
According to reports from The Telegraph, Chelsea will now commence their search for a young and progressive replacement for Pochettino. Among potential candidates are Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness, Girona's Michel, Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna, and Leicester City's Enzo Maresca.
The departure of Mauricio Pochettino continues the trend of managerial changes at Chelsea since the Clearlake Capital-Boehly group took over. Pochettino's exit means that five managers have overseen the team in the past two years, including interim stints by Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard.