Four Musketeers: Sacked by Chelsea, reborn on the World Cup stage
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 07.06.26. | 17:46
As many as four former Blues' bosses will enter the race for the world crown
Even during Roman Abramovich's reign at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have been known as a "managerial graveyard". The longest stint of any Blues' manager in this century lasted a little less than four years, when Claudio Ranieri was in charge, while only the Italian and Jose Mourinho surpassed the 1,000-day mark in the dugout during that period.
Since Todd Boehly took over the club, Chelsea's "managerial meat grinder" has become even more brutal, with the London side led by seven different tacticians in the current decade. Xabi Alonso will be the eighth.
Yet several managers discarded by the Blues have successfully reinvented themselves on the international stage. Therefore, it's no wonder that as many as four former Chelsea bosses will enter the race for the crown at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The England manager, Thomas Tuchel, arguably has the best chance of winning the title. After leading the Blues between January 2021 and September 2022 and winning the Champions League with them, the German was in charge at Bayern Munich before taking over the Three Lions in October 2024. Now, he has to show he can handle high expectations.
Carlo Ancelotti had his spell at Stamford Bridge long before Tuchel - between July 2009 and May 2011 - well before his legendary spell at Real Madrid, during which he won three Champions League titles. The Italian took over the fallen giants, Brazil, trying to revive them and add a sixth star to the nation's shirt.
Mauricio Pochettino spent less than a year in London (July 2023 - May 2024) and failed to make a lasting impact. Now, he'll aim to do it with the USA, hosts of the 2026 World Cup. His tenure laid the foundations for a project that is now approaching its defining moment.
Advancing to the knockout phase from Group D, which also includes Australia, Turkey, and Paraguay, will be Pochettino's primary task, though the Americans certainly harbour loftier ambitions.
Finally, one of the least successful Chelsea managers in the club's history, Graham Potter, who spent only eight months at Stamford Bridge (September 2022 - April 2023), has found a new lease on life with Sweden.
Thanks to a combination of strong Nations League performances and a bit of luck, the Northern Europeans booked their place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, and now dare to dream. The group with the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia is definitely manageable, and anything beyond that would be a bonus.