Chelsea: Graham Potter Announced As Tuchel's Replacement

Chelsea Football Club has announced former Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter as Thomas Tuchel’s replacement.

In a statement on Thursday, September 8, the English Premier League club praised Potter as one of the most exciting coaches in the game, starting his journey in Sweden before bringing his talents to the English game over the past four seasons.

The 47-year-old is educated to degree level in disciplines beyond sport and has combined these experiences to forge a collaborative, forward-thinking approach while developing attacking and winning football.

An image of Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club. /SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

"That has been in evidence during his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he achieved that club’s highest-ever league finish last season.

"Along the way, he earned praise for his winning brand of football on the South Coast, while proving flexible in tactics and formations to be a step ahead of opponents," the club stated in part.

On making the move to Stamford Bridge, Potter said: "I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club. I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of.

"I would also like to place my sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for allowing me this opportunity and in particular Tony Bloom and all the players, staff and supporters for their continued support during my time at the club," he noted.

Todd Boehly, the club's chairman, expressed his excitement at bringing Potter on board as he is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits the club's vision.

"Not only is he extremely talented on the pitch, he has skills and capabilities that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful Club. He has had a major impact at his previous Clubs and we look forward to his positive impact at Chelsea. We look forward to supporting him, his coaching team and the squad in realising their full potential in the coming months and years.’

Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano, co-controlling owners, praised Potter as a football innovator and winner on the pitch and a leader off the pitch.

He has deeply impressed them with his ideas and approach to football, thus are thrilled to partner with Potter to build a winning team, one that embodies the culture of collaboration, innovation, teamwork, player development, and a commitment to excellence on and off the pitch.

Potter will take charge of the team immediately. He has had a good start of the season as Brighton’s manager with the Seagulls currently fourth on the 2022/2023 Premier League table having lost only one match in the five games already played. 

He emerged as the best option over Mauricio Pochettino, Ruben Amorim and Zinedine Zidane, who were reported to be on Chelsea's radar.

The club had the previous day praised Tuchel who was brought in as a replacement for Frank Lampard in January 2021, and during that time he has managed to win the club's second UEFA Champions League trophy and its first FIFA Club World Cup.

It added that the new owners thought it was the right time to make the transition. It came hours after Chelsea lost 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in the UCL group match.

Notably the decision also reverberated across the club's loyal fanbase in Kenya, as a section of fans had mixed reactions over what can be termed as a knee-jerk reaction after just six games into the 2022/23 football season.

"Chelsea is not a team of getting lucky with experiments, we want world-class coaches, we are a stepping stone.

"I'm really disappointed the sacking does not make sense to me. He just got his players. Time is always key this is too soon," some of the fans revealed while speaking to Viral Tea.

Former head coach, Thomas Tuchel. /FILE