Chelsea’s decision to mutually part ways with Mauricio Pochettino at the start of the week has resulted in an outcry of question marks over the thinking of the club hierarchy.
Since completing their takeover of the football club in 2022, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have been heavily scrutinised for their decision making in the transfer market and ruthlessness with managers.
Pochettino’s exit left many Chelsea fans wondering what was next and the list of names, it’s fair to say, has been met with an underwhelming reaction from supporters. Kieran McKenna, Enzo Maresca and Thomas Frank are on the club’s three-man shortlist.
Behdad Eghbali, who co-founded Clearlake in 2006, has taken more control of things off Boehly recently and is often spotted at first-team games. The 48-year-old is set to have a highly significant role in the search for a new head coach alongside sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
After moving to the United States with his family when he was a child, Eghbali’s net worth is now $3.8billion (£2.98billion), ranking 835th in the Forbes rich list. Boehly’s net worth is significantly higher than the Iranian’s at $6.1billion (£4.78bn).
There had been some confusion over who was making the key decisions at Chelsea with reports that Eghbali wanted Pochettino gone and Boehly was happy with the Argentine.
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At the start of the stewardship, Boehly was heavily involved with him and Eghbali often pictured together at Stamford Bridge. However, now, Eghbali is much more involved and football.london understands that he, Stewart and Winstanley will play a main part in the selection process.