Chelsea FC has sacked their manager Thomas Tuchel with an immediate effect after the club suffered a humiliating 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League last night.

“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the club,” a statement read, adding, “Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.”

Tuchel arrived at Chelsea last year in 2021, following the sacking of the home favorite Frank Lampard. Within four months of his arrival, Chelsea won their first Champions League in almost a decade, and they looked like the prime contender for the Premier League title. But it never materialized, as Tuchel’s team kept blowing hot and cold, and he also failed to integrate Romelu Lukaku into the team. 

Other than the Champions League triumph, Tuchel led the club to the final of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup but failed to cross one last hurdle on both occasions. This season the manager was given extra responsibility to handle the transfer window, but he didn’t enjoy getting involved in the business side of the club. 

Six games into the Premier League season, Chelsea have already suffered two defeats – against Southampton and Leeds – and are placed at a lowly sixth position. 

Some fans joked that the club will be winning another Champions League after Tuchel’s sacking. Chelsea has won both two Champions League titles, and both of them came within months after the new manager was announced. 

Who Will Be Thomas Tuchel’s Replacement?

Brighton manager Graham Potter is among the frontrunners to take the mantle from Tuchel. The club has taken great strides under Potter’s reign, and they have started this season with an iconic 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford. 

Before him, no Brighton manager has won a game against United away from home. Last week, Brighton thumped Leicester City 5-2, and with 13 points in the first six games, they are ranked fourth in the list.

Zinedine Zidane is another option for Chelsea. Zidane boasts an impressive coaching CV, but he has never managed any clubs barring Real Madrid. Chelsea will surely get a serial winner in Zidane, but the only question is if he can take the team in transition to new heights. 

At Real Madrid, he had an assortment of superstars, and many argue their Champions League dominance was more a result of individual heroics than a tactical masterclass.

If Chelsea wants someone with a considerable experience in the Premier League, they can go after Mauricio Pochettino, who is without a job after being sacked as the PSG manager. Brendan Rodgers is also among the bookmakers’ favorites, but his team Leicester City has struggled in the opening stage, not winning any of the first six matches.

Lead Image: Premier League