Former Hamilton Accies boss Billy Reid has become the assistant manager at Chelsea after the English Premier League club appointed Graham Potter as their new boss on a five-year deal.
Reid, 59, has been assistant to Potter for almost a decade, with the pair first linking up in 2013 at Swedish side Östersunds, and they now join the London club after reaching an agreement with Brighton Hove Albion to leave their positions at Falmer Stadium.
Potter and Reid - who played for Accies and Clyde - have made a storming start to the season with the Seagulls, leading them to fourth place in the English Premier League and two points behind leaders Arsenal after six games.
But they now replace Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge after his shock sacking yesterday, following a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in their opening group game of the UEFA Champions League in Croatia.
A statement from Chelsea read: "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.
"Potter is one of the most exciting coaches in the game, starting his journey in Sweden before bringing his talents to the English game over the past four seasons. The 47-year-old is educated to degree level in disciplines beyond sport and has combined these experiences to forge a collaborative, forward-thinking approach while developing attacking and winning football.
"That has been in evidence during his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he achieved that club’s highest-ever league finish last season. Along the way, he earned praise for his winning brand of football on the south coast, while proving flexible in tactics and formations to be a step ahead of opponents."
On making the move to Stamford Bridge, Potter said: ‘I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club. 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.
"I would also like to place my sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for allowing me this opportunity and in particular Tony Bloom and all the players, staff and supporters for their continued support during my time at the club.’
Chelsea chairman 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.
"He has had a major impact at his previous Clubs’ and we look forward to his positive impact at Chelsea. We look forward to supporting him, his coaching team and the squad in realising their full potential in the coming months and years.’
Brighton
Helping lead a squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2021 and are the reigning FIFA World Club champions is a far cry from Reid's days at the helm at New Douglas Park, where he spent seven and a half years from 2005 to 2013.
In 2008 he guided Accies to the First Division title and his efforts in guiding the club to the top flight also saw him win the PFA Scotland Manger of the Year prize. Accies were eventually relegated under his stewardship in 2011 and he left the club two years later, being replaced by Alex Neil.
Five years at Ostersunds followed with Reid and Potter linking up to earn the club promotion to the Swedish top flight in 2015.
They finished fifth, winning the 2016-17 Svenska Cupen, which brought with it a place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. Ostersunds eliminated Galatasaray and PAOK and finished second in their group to Athletic Bilbao.
That attracted the attention of Swansea City and they would go on ot lead the Swans to a FA Cup quarter-final and a 10th place finish before Brighton came calling in 2019.
The biggest challenge of their careers now awaits, with high expectations and a ruthless board looking for them to hit the ground running.
Their first game in charge will be on Saturday when Chelsea visit Fulham on league business, with RB Salzburg at home in the Champions League to follow on Wednesday.
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
