Why some top managers won't come to Chelsea Football Club anymore

Under the ownership of Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly (or BlueCo, as the consortium is apparently called) over approximately two years, Chelsea Football Club have parted ways with five managers. Altogether, the Blues have seen two highly rated head coaches exit, one of whom had just won the Champions League. There was an icon of an interim boss asked to leave, a questionable caretaker appointment. Not to mention a notable former leader of a rival team who came and went. But that is merely scratching the surface of why eminent managers in the game will probably not consider coming to Stamford Bridge anymore.

When BlueCo frontmen Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took the helm at Chelsea, they insisted on stability. The sacking of Mauricio Pochettino has shed a light on what is seemingly a dichotomy at CFC: stable intent in a chaotic reality. They have actually dismissed their own selections quicker than predecessor Roman Abramovich, who was infamous for switching his coaches.

"We thought Chelsea was a good beachhead, it was frankly an asset, a business that was not terribly well managed on the football side, sporting side or promotional side, so meaningful opportunity at the club and we'll get to it for us, who needed the beachhead to then look at multi clubs."

- Eghbali

The ownership also decided to change every aspect of the club. From backroom staff to a host of players and managers, the playing side of the team was completely overhauled a couple of times. As per football.london, the stadium wasn't untouched, there's a new media team, a fresh direction for kit and sponsors were all devised too. Meanwhile the latest directors were announced.

However, all is not steady at Stamford Bridge, nor is it anchored tightly at the training complex either. According to TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, more than one gaffer has been annoyed by Eghbali's unnecessary presence at practice and other squad sessions at Cobham. The reporter also claims that Mauricio Pochettino was considering resigning for various reasons anyway. A lack of transfer autonomy is arguably chiefly among the Argentine's rationale, I'm sure.

Anyone who is in charge of a professional side - the elite Premier League being the standout division of them all - desires control, at least to a certain point. When considering the extensive statistical analysis, input from a director of football, recruitment specialists and chairpersons, this is likely a typical scenario. Though, the situation is possibly heightened at the Bridge. It is unlikely that even Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp (formerly of Liverpool), or Mikel Arteta have supreme authority over incomings and outgoings at their respective superclubs.

But at CFC, Boehly and Eghbali's main concern seems to be stamping their authority and brand, or branding, upon the outfit as a whole. From top to bottom, this is BlueCo FC now. In spite of an exceptionally promising young squad, solid financial backing, a fiercely loyal and supportive global fan base and European football for 2024/25, the west London club is becoming a managerial graveyard. After Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor, Frank Lampard and Pochettino in swift succession - who'd want to manage Chels' now without certain unnecessarily unattainable guarantees from the hierarchy?!