Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter set for SHOCK appointment

Tom Hancock

Updated: 17 May 2023 21:22 BST
3 min read

Graham Potter, Chelsea, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter could make his return to management with Nice.

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Potter – who was sacked by the Blues at the beginning of April, after an unsuccessful seven-month stint in charge at Stamford Bridge – is said to be the favourite to become the Ligue 1 club’s next permanent manager.

Nice are currently under the interim charge of Didier Digard, having given Lucen Favre his marching orders back in January.

According to Fussball Transfers, Les Aiglons – who currently sit 10th in Ligue 1 – have identified Potter as their top candidate for the role.

Should the 47-year-old make the move to the Cote d’Azur, it wouldn’t be his first job overseas: the ex-Brighton boss made a name for himself at the helm of Swedish outfit Ostersunds – guiding them from the fourth tier all the way to fifth place in the top flight.

Earlier on in his coaching career, Potter – who was a left-back for the likes of Birmingham City and West Brom during his playing days – also worked as technical director for the Ghana women’s team.

© ProShots - Potter left Chelsea with a win rate of just 38.7%

Potter to escape England for a while?

Some had suggested that Potter might take over at Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham after they dismissed Antonio Conte last month, but a spell away from the constant scrutiny may be beneficial for the man who has been tipped as a future England manager.

Nice – who are owned by INEOS, the company of potential Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe – have fallen away badly in 2022/23, having come close to Champions League qualification last term.

They did, however, reach the quarter-finals of this season’s Europa Conference League, where they lost 4-3 on aggregate to Basel.