As the season nears its conclusion, several high-profile, title-winning managers are on the market waiting for their next opportunity. European football journalist Guillem Balague believes Julian Nagelsmann could be a prime candidate for the Stamford Bridge hotseat. He has a great relationship with Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and is highly regarded in the managerial world. Mauricio Pochettino is another name that has been linked with the job, having previously managed Tottenham and PSG. The 51-year-old Argentine has a wealth of experience and has been out of work since leaving the French side last summer.
Luis Enrique is another frontrunner for the Chelsea job. The 52-year-old Spaniard has won a treble and double in his three seasons as Barcelona manager and is highly experienced in Europe’s top five leagues. Zinedine Zidane, who won three Champions Leagues and two Spanish titles in five years at Real Madrid, is also on the list of potential candidates. However, he is unlikely to take any job unless it is with a team that can win things or do interesting things.
Antonio Conte, who has managed Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, Siena, Juventus, Italy, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Tottenham, is unlikely to fill the Chelsea vacancy as he has already managed the club between 2016 and 2018. Roberto de Zerbi has really caught the eye this season since he replaced Graham Potter at Brighton and could be an option for Chelsea. The 43-year-old Italian has impressed with Benevento, Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk. Thomas Frank, who got Brentford promoted from the Championship, is another potential candidate.
Diego Simeone has done a sensational job at Atletico Madrid since taking over in 2011 and could be a great addition to Chelsea’s managerial team. The Argentine has won two La Liga titles and reached two Champions League finals during his time at Atletico and could be ready for a new challenge soon. Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked by Leicester hours before Potter’s exit, could also be an option as he was the Blues’ reserve boss from 2006 to 2008. Finally, John Terry, one of Chelsea’s all-time legends, joined the club as a coaching consultant in 2022 after leaving his role as Aston Villa assistant and could be an interesting choice.