The former Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli has emerged as a front-runner for the Chelsea job, according to the Telegraph.
Reports suggest that Sampaoli has talked his way into contention and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is seriously considering the 55-year-old to take over from interim manager Guus Hiddink next season.
The Argentinian recently guided Chile to their first Copa America, beating his home country in the final and winning many plaudits along the way for their attacking tactics.
Despite having never coached in Europe, Sampaoli’s high-pressing attractive style of football has caught the eye of Abramovich and while he does not speak fluent English, although he is learning, it is expected he will able to communicate with the first team players in Spanish at first.
Sampaoli joins the shortlist of managers drawn up by the Blues including Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, Italy manager Antonio Conte and Juventus’ Massimo Allegri.
Due to his relative inexperience, Sampaoli is still currently ranked as an outsider for the job and his lack of pedigree and despite Sampaoli being named on the final three-man shortlist for the 2015 FIFA World Coach of the Year award, joined by Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
