BREAKING: Chelsea announce Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager

Chelsea have announced that Mauricio Pochettino will be their next permanent manager, following the sacking of Graham Potter earlier this season.

It's long been expected that Pochettino would be the man to take the role following a disastrous season for the Blues and they finally announced it on Monday.

The club confirmed the news on their website saying: "Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm Mauricio Pochettino will become head coach of the men’s team from the beginning of the 2023/24 season.

"The Argentine will begin his new role on 1 July 2023 on a two-year contract, with a club option of a further year."

Owner Todd Boehly and the rest of his consortium said: "The sporting team conducted a diligent and thoughtful process that the Board is proud of. We are delighted that Mauricio will be joining Chelsea. Mauricio is a world-class coach with an outstanding track record. We are all looking forward to having him on board."

Pochettino has been out of work since being sacked by PSG at the end of last season, despite delivering the Ligue 1 trophy in his first full season.

He has not been in English football since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 just months after he reached the Champions League final.

With Spurs also without a manager there had been some talk that the club would turn to the Argentine again but in recent weeks his move to Stamford Bridge has become inevitable.

The Blues started the season with Thomas Tuchel in charge but Boehly found the opportunity to sack the German and bring in his own man.

Potter's time at the club was short lived and he was sacked at the beginning of Apri, having won just 12 of his 31 games in charge of the team.

Frank Lampard replaced Potter on an interim basis and there was plenty of talk about the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique being favourites for the job.

The club's all time top goalscorer has tarnished his reputation in west London in his short second spell in charge of the team after one win in 11 games.

His answers in recent press conferences have bemused and annoyed Chelsea fans, who will be glad to see Pochettino come in now.

The 51-year-old has a hell of a job on his hands after a campaign that saw the team finish in 12th place and he will have to get rid of lots of deadwood from the squad.