Stop me if you've heard this one before: "Chelsea is on the lookout for a new manager."
Yes, the West London club has seemingly not kicked the habit of chopping and changing the man in the dugout at terrifying regularity. Mauricio Pochettino "mutually" agreed with the board to depart the club on Tuesday, as the Blues phrased the decision in a statement.
That means the club is in the market for its 21st manager in the last 20 years (including caretaker bosses and two stints each from José Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Frank Lampard.)
Things were looking rocky for Chelsea in April, prompting us to suggest a selection of possible replacements for the Argentinian should he be given his marching orders. But the Blues had seemingly turned a corner during the Premier League run-in, notching five consecutive victories to close out the campaign and smashing in 14 goals in the process.
That wasn't enough for the trigger-happy Chelsea hierarchy, who deemed it necessary to jettison the former Tottenham Hotspur boss in favor of a new flavor of the month after a sixth-place Premier League finish.
Four weeks can feel like a year in football terms, and the managerial merry-go-round that began after the curtain closed on league play has now gone into overdrive.
Unexpected departures and outstanding coaches being tipped for new jobs elsewhere have led to a chaotic market, and the options for Chelsea have broadened significantly. According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, a "young manager" is "the priority." Sorry, José.
With that in mind, who is the most likely candidate to take the Chelsea helm? The forecast suggests choppy waters, but someone will be brave (or foolish) enough to grab the opportunity with both hands.
