Having opted to part company with Thomas Tuchel earlier this month, the new Chelsea ownership faced a difficult decision as to who to appoint as the club's head coach. But one thing was clear: they didn't want to go down the traditional route favoured under Roman Abramovich.
The Russian, who oversaw an unrivalled period of success at Stamford Bridge, tended to target tried-and-trusted coaches, those who had competed and won titles at the very top level of the European game. There were a couple of departures from those ideals – Roberto Di Matteo and Frank Lampard, for example – but their appointments were largely born out of circumstance.
Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali wanted to go down a different path. Bemused by the rotating cast of coaches in plum jobs, the American duo targeted someone they felt was approaching their pinnacle, a coach ready and prepared to take the final step into the upper echelon of the European game.
READ MORE Callum Hudson-Odoi reveals Todd Boehly conversation before sanctioning Chelsea transfer exit
That was Graham Potter. The 47-year-old's CV included fine work at Ostersunds in Sweden, with Swansea City in Wales, and at Brighton and Hove Albion in England. Yet it was not a back catalogue that screamed future Chelsea head coach – at least not traditionally.
The appointment is a risk on the part of Boehly and Eghbali. Potter has taken a gamble too; the English coach worked hard to develop his reputation as a shrewd tactician and man-manager and would have had future opportunities to move to – on the face of things – a more stable club.
Potter is proof, however, that there is no right or wrong journey on the road to coaching at an elite-level club. He doesn't have the glamour of having worked at Paris Saint-Germain like Tuchel, nor an array of top-flight European titles like many of the Chelsea coaches that have come before.
Instead, he has honed his craft away from the spotlight and gained his opportunity. And that has been highlighted by Wayne Rooney, who followed his first job in management at Derby County by taking charge of MLS side DC United.
“I spoke to Graham last year," the former England international and Manchester United legend said in an interview with The Times: "I had a few hours with him on Zoom and he went through his journey with me. He was good, interesting. He was sharing his ideas and I was sharing my ideas of how I work.
"It’s good to bounce ideas off another coach — I’ve done similar with Gareth Southgate and a few others. You look at Graham, or Arsène Wenger who went to Asia. [José] Mourinho has been in different places. Fergie started with small clubs in Scotland. Patrick Vieira managed over here (at New York City FC) and went to France. Everyone has a different pathway
"But they all did what they did to educate themselves and better themselves. Sometimes as a manager, you just take the job that’s there and work your way from that.”
READ NEXT:
Graham Potter makes Romelu Lukaku return decision as contact made amid Inter Milan transfer plan
Barcelona make swoop for another Chelsea star in search for Sergio Busquets replacement
Graham Potter finds perfect answer to N'Golo Kante contract saga with £20m Chelsea transfer
Chelsea scouts impressed by Bayer Leverkusen star after checking on Callum Hudson-Odoi progress
Marina Granovskaia would have 'blocked Chelsea summer transfer' as Graham Potter decision made
