Graham Potter is hoping to quickly instil a culture Chelsea supporters can be proud of after being named the club’s new head coach.
The Blues have moved swiftly after announcing the departure of Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday, with Potter confirmed less than 36 hours later. Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly identified the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss as the outstanding candidate thanks to his track record of being “a proven innovator in the Premier League.”
Potter met with Stamford Bridge chiefs on Wednesday evening, before thrashing out the final details on his five-year contract shortly after that. “I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club,” a statement released on Chelsea’s official site reads.
“I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of.
“I would also like to place my sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for allowing me this opportunity and in particular Tony Bloom and all the players, staff and supporters for their continued support during my time at the club.”
Potter leaves the Seagulls after an impressive three seasons at the Amex, the last of which saw them claim a top-half Premier League finish for the first time. Whilst withstanding high-profile losses to his playing squad, Potter’s Brighton continued to punch above their weight, with that reputation making him an easy choice for American tycoon Boehly.
“We are thrilled to bring Graham to Chelsea. He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the Club. Not only is he extremely talented on the pitch, he has skills and capabilities that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful Club.
“He has had a major impact at his previous Clubs and we look forward to his positive impact at Chelsea. We look forward to supporting him, his coaching team and the squad in realising their full potential in the coming months and years.”
Co-owners Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano added: “Graham is a football innovator and winner on the pitch and a leader off the pitch. He has deeply impressed us with his ideas and approach to football.
“We are thrilled to partner with Graham to build a winning team, one that embodies the culture of collaboration, innovation, teamwork, player development, and a commitment to excellence on and off the pitch. We are fortunate to have Graham and his team as our partners in that journey.”
Potter, 47, will take charge of his new side immediately and looks set to be in the dugout for this weekend’s West London derby with Fulham at Craven Cottage. And he will need to hit the ground running, with Chelsea enduring a poor start to the season, which has seen them lose three of their last five matches in all competitions.
