Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea exit could spark domino effect leaving Todd Boehly red-faced

Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Chelsea could spark a three-way domino effect that poses a potentially embarrassing scenario for co-owner Todd Boehly and his fellow BlueCo chiefs. Pochettino has left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after just a season in charge of the Blues.

The Argentine never seemed entirely content with the dynamics of Chelsea’s structure. According to the Telegraph, that was part of the reason for the premature divorce which comes midway through the two-year contract the former Tottenham boss signed last summer.

Attention will now turn to who Chelsea appoint as Pochettino’s successor. According to Sky Germany, Thomas Tuchel is keen on a return to Stamford Bridge.

That could be a tough scenario for Boehly, who sacked Tuchel just four months into his co-ownership in September 2022. A difference in opinion with the club’s hierarchy saw Tuchel replaced by Graham Potter, whose own tenure lasted only five months.

Pochettino’s exit and Tuchel’s possible return could even have an impact on Erik ten Hag’s job at Manchester United. The outgoing Chelsea head coach has been linked with replacing Ten Hag at Old Trafford after the Dutchman endured a tough second campaign.

According to the Evening Standard, Pochettino is well liked by United’s new sporting hierarchy, which is being pieced together by INEOS. The 52-year-old is also widely believed to have been a contender to become the new Red Devils boss before Ten Hag was appointed in May 2022.

Ten Hag himself may even replace Tuchel at Bayern Munich. The German left the Bundesliga side at their end of a disappointing domestic campaign, in which their third-place finish was their lowest since 2011.

Tuchel’s exit was initially announced in February, with it agreed that the former Chelsea head coach would continue until the end of the season. After Bayern struggled to identify a successor, talks began to retain Tuchel into next season. However, those discussions did not prove fruitful and the 50-year-old has now left the club.

Meanwhile, Pochettino has thanked Chelsea’s hierarchy after reported crunch talks that culminated with the mutual decision to part ways.

“Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history,” he said. “The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”

Pochettino’s exit could now prompt a summer managerial merry-go-round.