Chelsea fans have named a shock candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino who bookmakers aren’t even offering odds on.
On Tuesday, Chelsea made the surprise announcement that manager Pochettino will leave the club by mutual consent after just one season at Stamford Bridge.
Club bosses reportedly held a meeting with the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach on Monday, before reaching an agreement with him on Tuesday morning.
Pochettino’s replacement will be the fifth Chelsea manager since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club in 2022.
A number of big names have been linked with the London side, including former managers Thomas Tuchel and Jose Mourinho.
Reports earlier this week claimed that an unnamed club payed Brighton compensation after Roberto De Zerbi left the club, and some believe it might have been Chelsea.
Despite Chelsea bosses targeting a younger manager who will lead the club for years to come, some Chelsea fans have suggested that Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini should get the job.
On Wednesday evening the 66-year-old masterminded a 3-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen in the final of the UEFA Europa League, Atalanta’s first trophy win since 1963 and just the second major title in their 117-year history.
The Italian coach took charge of the club from Bergamo in 2016, and took them from the lower half of the Serie A table to regulars in Europe.
Gasperini guided Atalanta to a first ever European trophy.
Gasperini’s Atalanta contract is set to expire in 2025, and earlier this season he came close to leaving the club after a run of poor performances.
Bookmakers are currently not even offering odds on Gasperini replacing Pochettino, but some fans think he should be the man Chelsea turn to.
“I hope Gasperini will be the next Chelsea coach,” one fan commented on X, while another asked “How long before Gasperini is linked with Chelsea?”
A third fan said: “Would love Gasperini at Chelsea, that’s a top experienced manager there not [Jose] Mourinho, [Anontio] Conte or [Hansi] Flick.”
A fourth admitted: “I always loved Gasperini’s style of play. I always thought of him at Chelsea, a man can only dream.”
Another Chelsea fan joked: “Boehly or whoever’s in charge, bring in Gasperini to Chelsea. He’s young at heart.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino, Atalanta, Europa League, Bayer Leverkusen, Fan Reactions, Roberto De Zerbi
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
