Graham Potter appointed Chelsea’s new manager

ANKARA

Chelsea on Thursday hired Graham Potter as their new manager.

"Chelsea Football Club is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as our new Head Coach, joining us on a five-year contract to bring his progressive football and innovative coaching to the Club," the Blues said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the English club sacked German national Thomas Tuchel, 49, after Chelsea lost to Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League Group E match

Potter, 47, said that he is "incredibly proud and excited" to coach Chelsea.

"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," Potter added.

Chelsea President Todd Boehly said: "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."

Potter, a former English football player, previously moved to Sweden in 2010 to coach Ostersunds, helping this club win the 2017 Swedish Cup, and took the team from the fourth-tier division to Sweden's top-flight league.

In Potter’s era, Ostersunds played in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 in the 2017-18 season and were eliminated by Arsenal.

Later, he managed English clubs Swansea and Brighton.