The Blues Managerial Hall Of Fame: Six Of The Best Chelsea Soccer Managers
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Chelsea is a club that's had its fair share of soccer managers. Few Chelsea soccer managers are ever given the luxury of time. Some of them have still delivered immediate trophy success at Stamford Bridge, especially during the Premier League era. Xabi Alonso is the latest new boss in the Blues hot seat, and these are some of the best Chelsea soccer managers he'll be trying to eclipse (or at least emulate).
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José Mourinho
José Mourinho declared himself to be the special one when he arrived at Stamford Bridge, and he certainly lived up to his billing across five full Chelsea seasons. The “Special One” built an unbreakable defensive system at Chelsea based on a preferred 4-3-3 formation with rapid transitions from defence to attack. He introduced the concept of Tactical Periodisation at Chelsea, changing how teams prepared for matches in English soccer.
With Mourinho at the helm, Chelsea conceded a mere 15 goals to win a first Premier League title at a canter. Then he won two more league titles for the Blues in further seasons. Mourinho also won three League Cups and an FA Cup to increase his silverware haul to seven major trophies at Stamford Bridge, which is a record for Chelsea managers.
Dave Sexton
Chelsea had its greatest pre-Premier League glory era when Sexton was manager. He was one of the most visionary Chelsea soccer managers in history who embraced continental tactics based on technical skill and progressive play at Stamford Bridge. He was a manager ahead of his time who utilized tactical diagrams and video footage for player coaching when such methods were rare in the English game.
Sexton built a team that blended glamorous flair and tactical steel, with iconic players like Peter Osgood and Peter Bonetti. His 1971 side was the first Chelsea team to win a European trophy with a Cup Winners' Cup final victory against Real Madrid. Chelsea also beat Leeds United in the FA Cup final during his reign.
Thomas Tuchel
The current England boss showed why he's one of the top managers in the world during his Chelsea reign. Tuchel introduced immediate tactical flexibility with a 3-4-3 formation that fixed defensive leaks when he arrived at Stamford Bridge. His elite tactical adaptability made him one of the best Chelsea soccer managers in history.
Tuchel delivered immediate success at Chelsea by guiding the disjointed squad he inherited to Champions League glory within about four months. Chelsea finished third in the league and won the Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in Tuchel's full season at the Bridge. His team was also unlucky to lose two domestic cup finals on penalties after 0-0 draws against Liverpool.
Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti was one of the most adaptable Chelsea soccer managers in history who did not attempt to impose a rigid philosophy on his players. Instead, he adapted his playing system to suit the squad he inherited. Ancelotti's primary formation at Chelsea was a midfield diamond 4-1-2-1-2. He switched to 4-3-3 when the African Cup of Nations and injuries depleted his player selection.
Chelsea were the great entertainers who won the Premier League in Ancelotti's first season by scoring 103 goals. Then his Blues team secured the double with a 1-0 FA Cup final win against Portsmouth. Thus, Ancelotti is the only Chelsea manager to have done the league and FA Cup double.
Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte became one of the great Chelsea soccer managers in history primarily because of the 3-4-3 formation he introduced that transformed the team. That formation turned Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso into wing-backs, with David Luiz playing in the middle of a back three. It was brilliant tactical innovation that worked a treat during Conte's first Chelsea season.
Conte inherited a Chelsea team that had finished mid-table in the previous season and immediately turned it into Premier League champions. The highlight of that season was a relentless 13-match winning streak in the league, and Chelsea won 30 matches to win the title. He also won the FA Cup for Chelsea in his second season.
End Of My Best Chelsea Soccer Managers Rant
The best Chelsea soccer managers above have made a huge contribution to filling Stamford Bridge's trophy cabinet. Those five managers have won a total of 15 major trophies for Chelsea between them. Mourinho was the most special Blues manager of all, but Conte, Tuchel, Sexton, and Ancelotti were also architects of some of Chelsea's greatest triumphs.
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