Chelsea Managers: All-time list of Blues bosses, and how long they lasted

Cameron Smith

• 1 Nov 2024 15:35 GMT
• 5 min read

Chelsea have a history of chopping and changing managers at a moment’s notice and nothing epitomises that more than the fact that, upon his appointment in June 2024, Enzo Maresca became the club’s sixth different manager in less than two years.

Thomas Tuchel began the 2022-23 campaign in charge before he was binned in September 2022 in order for Graham Potter to take over. The Englishman lasted just 31 games before he was sacked with the Blues in 11th place in the Premier League.

His assistant, Bruno Saltor, then became interim boss, but he lasted only one game before he was replaced by former head coach Frank Lampard.

READ MORE: Arsenal Managers: All-time list of Gunners bosses, and how long they lasted

Lampard joined on an interim basis until the end of the 2022-23 season, but endured a torrid time back at Stamford Bridge. He won just one of his 11 matches in charge, with two draws and eight defeats along the way.

Under his management, the Blues were also knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid and accumulated their lowest points tally in Premier League history.

Mauricio Pochettino was hired in June 2023 and he managed to stabilise the club. However, the former Tottenham manager departed again after just a season, with Chelsea determined to hire a more progressive tactician to build a long-term project.

Thus, former Man City assistant Enzo Maresca took the reins in June 2024 after winning promotion to the Premier League with Leicester City.

In 2022, Chelsea changed owners, with American billionaire Todd Boehly taking over following Roman Abramovich’s sale of the club.

READ MORE: Which football managers have been sacked this season?

Since his reign began, Boehly has spent over €1 billion on new players, including breaking the British transfer record by bringing in Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January 2023 for €121m.

Things have not gone well, with Chelsea finishing 12th in 2022-23 and sixth under Pochettino in 2023-24.

Ken Bates was the Chelsea owner before Abramovich, and with Bates, Abramovich and Boehly, Chelsea have consistently had a larger-than-life figure running the club, which has led to a lot of controversy and demand for results - hence the numerous managerial changes.

In total, Chelsea have had 34 different permanent managers in their history, with 16 since the year 2000.

Chelsea managers list

Who is the current Chelsea manager?

Enzo Maresca is the current Chelsea manager, succeeding Mauricio Pochettino in June 2024. The Italian previously worked for Man City as an academy coach and assistant under Pep Guardiola.

In 2023-24, Maresca led relegated Leicester City to the Championship title after which Chelsea came calling. He joined on a five-year deal with the option for a further season.

Early signs are very encouraging indeed, though the process will take time. Maresca has repeatedly insisted that Chelsea owners did not tell him that a top-four finish is required in his first season, but there is an acceptance that a third consecutive campaign without Champions League football will be tough to swallow.