The beginning
John Tait Robertson
1905–1906
Chelsea’s first manager and a player in the club’s inaugural Football League season.
- Tenure
- 1905–1906
- Defining record
- Founding manager
1905 to the current chapter
Managers
Sixteen appointments that explain changes in Chelsea’s level, style or trophy record. Each entry opens a sourced profile; brief caretaker spells remain part of the surrounding chronology.
Showing all 16 profiles.
The long first era
David Calderhead
1907–1933
Chelsea’s longest-serving manager, leading the club for more than a quarter of a century.
- Tenure
- 1907–1933
- Defining record
- 1915 FA Cup finalist
First champions
Ted Drake
1952–1961
The moderniser who changed Chelsea’s identity and delivered the club’s first league championship.
- Tenure
- 1952–1961
- Defining record
- 1954/55 league title
Docherty’s Diamonds
Tommy Docherty
1961–1967
The charismatic manager who trusted a gifted young team and made Chelsea fashionable contenders.
- Tenure
- 1961–1967
- Defining record
- 1965 League Cup
First cup peak
Dave Sexton
1967–1974
A tactically astute coach who converted Chelsea’s potential into domestic and European trophies.
- Tenure
- 1967–1974
- Defining record
- FA Cup; Cup Winners’ Cup
The 1983 rebuild
John Neal
1981–1985
The manager who rebuilt Chelsea economically and pulled the club away from the threat of the third tier.
- Tenure
- 1981–1985
- Defining record
- 1983/84 Second Division title
Premier League reset
Glenn Hoddle
1993–1996
The player-manager who began Chelsea’s shift toward a more ambitious, international future.
- Tenure
- 1993–1996
- Defining record
- 1994 FA Cup finalist
Cosmopolitan breakthrough
Ruud Gullit
1996–1998
The pioneering player-manager who returned major silverware to Chelsea after a 26-year wait.
- Tenure
- 1996–1998
- Defining record
- 1997 FA Cup
International cup winners
Gianluca Vialli
1998–2000
A player-manager who turned Chelsea’s new depth and ambition into an exceptional run of cup success.
- Tenure
- 1998–2000
- Defining record
- Five trophies
Modern champions
José Mourinho
2004–2007; 2013–2015
The manager who turned a newly resourced side into dominant champions and returned to win the league again.
- Tenure
- 2004–2007; 2013–2015
- Defining record
- Three Premier League titles
The first Double
Carlo Ancelotti
2009–2011
The calm, flexible coach who led Chelsea to its first league-and-FA-Cup Double.
- Tenure
- 2009–2011
- Defining record
- Premier League; FA Cup
Munich
Roberto Di Matteo
2012
The interim appointment who delivered the European Cup Chelsea had pursued for years.
- Tenure
- 2012
- Defining record
- Champions League; FA Cup
Three-at-the-back champions
Antonio Conte
2016–2018
The intense coach whose mid-season tactical switch powered Chelsea to the 2016/17 league title.
- Tenure
- 2016–2018
- Defining record
- Premier League; FA Cup
European champions again
Thomas Tuchel
2021–2022
The mid-season appointment who built an elite defence and won three international trophies.
- Tenure
- 2021–2022
- Defining record
- Champions League; Super Cup; Club World Cup
European and world double
Enzo Maresca
2024–2026
The possession-focused head coach who won two international trophies in his first Chelsea season.
- Tenure
- 2024–2026
- Defining record
- Conference League; Club World Cup
The current chapter
Xabi Alonso
2026–
Chelsea’s current manager, appointed to lead the next phase from the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
- Tenure
- 2026–
- Defining record
- Appointed July 2026
1905–1906John Tait RobertsonChelsea’s first manager and a player in the club’s inaugural Football League season.1907–1933David CalderheadChelsea’s longest-serving manager, leading the club for more than a quarter of a century.1952–1961Ted DrakeThe moderniser who changed Chelsea’s identity and delivered the club’s first league championship.1961–1967Tommy DochertyThe charismatic manager who trusted a gifted young team and made Chelsea fashionable contenders.1967–1974Dave SextonA tactically astute coach who converted Chelsea’s potential into domestic and European trophies.1981–1985John NealThe manager who rebuilt Chelsea economically and pulled the club away from the threat of the third tier.1993–1996Glenn HoddleThe player-manager who began Chelsea’s shift toward a more ambitious, international future.1996–1998Ruud GullitThe pioneering player-manager who returned major silverware to Chelsea after a 26-year wait.1998–2000Gianluca VialliA player-manager who turned Chelsea’s new depth and ambition into an exceptional run of cup success.2004–2007; 2013–2015José MourinhoThe manager who turned a newly resourced side into dominant champions and returned to win the league again.2009–2011Carlo AncelottiThe calm, flexible coach who led Chelsea to its first league-and-FA-Cup Double.2012Roberto Di MatteoThe interim appointment who delivered the European Cup Chelsea had pursued for years.2016–2018Antonio ConteThe intense coach whose mid-season tactical switch powered Chelsea to the 2016/17 league title.2021–2022Thomas TuchelThe mid-season appointment who built an elite defence and won three international trophies.2024–2026Enzo MarescaThe possession-focused head coach who won two international trophies in his first Chelsea season.2026–Xabi AlonsoChelsea’s current manager, appointed to lead the next phase from the start of the 2026/27 campaign.