The most expensive football manager ever: Graham Potter

Chelsea’s Graham Potter appears a rather unassuming gentleman. Yet the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss is now the most expensive football manager ever. Or should that be head coach, as so many of them seem to now call themselves. Maybe Potter’s choice is an altruistic one, as opposed to one of self-importance.

There was Beatrix Potter of writing fame, Harry Potter the fictional wizard, and Peter Kay creation, Brian Potter – but now Graham Potter shall continue the long line of illustrious English pottering. In all seriousness, the Blues have possibly chosen the right guy, here.

I am, nonetheless, still not 100 per cent convinced that the former Brighton gaffer is absolutely the most suitable candidate. And that opinion especially applies when you think of some of the managers the CFC ownership group could have approached. Zinedine Zidane and Mauricio Pochettino instantly come to mind when we consider juggernauts, lauded or supposedly winning bosses. Remember, unnecessary intensity often comes with a loftier stature.

Yet shrewdness, rather than headline making or choosing a typical candidate, was the route Todd Boehly et al decided to take. Potter represents the more measured and very involved coach. He is also one who certainly does not appear bothered by not having a particularly notable persona or being the continuous centre of media praise. Tactics and training ground, my dear.

Although, the ex-Seagulls man won the acclaim and admiration of peers, BHA fans, press and neutrals alike by doing his job so well that his former team are expected to finish in and around the Premier League European qualification places. Though, with the 47-year-old gone, that predicted outcome may be more of a stretch for the new chief at the seaside.

Chelsea’s Graham Potter: the most expensive football manager of all-time

Ostersund and Swansea City are not archetypal outfits on elite CVs. Ironically, with Potter’s relatively low profile, he is now the ‘most expensive head coach’ in football history, according to the below tweet inspired by The Times. Brighton owner/chairman Tony Bloom is as astute as they come, and carved out a relatively small piece of consolation for his organisation.

It seems as though Bloom, along with his staff, knew the value of his then employee and therefore had a compensating release clause inserted into the onetime BHA manager’s contract. Well played, ‘Tone’.

Potter cost the Blues £22million in compensation. Incidentally, and I say this with actual astonishment this time, the former’s new deal at Stamford Bridge is said to be worth up to £60m.

Other high level poaching has previously occurred at the helm of large clubs. The Julian Nagelsmann fee was apparently £17.4m for Bayern Munich; Jose Mourinho was billed at £13.9 to Real Madrid; a payout for Andre Villas-Boas’ charged £13m, again to Chels’; and Leicester paid Celtic a reported £9m to acquire Brendan Rodgers’ services. At risk of cliche, time will tell, but the Potter project could be a stroke of genius foresight.