10 stats that show why Chelsea appointed Graham Potter

Graham Potter has been announced as Chelsea's new manager.

The 47-year-old succeeds Thomas Tuchel and has signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge that runs until 2027. 

Having been talked up as a potential England manager one day, Potter's coaching career has been on an upward trajectory ever since he first took charge of Swedish club Ostersunds back in 2011.

That journey has culminated in the Englishman getting a top job at one of the country's biggest and most successful clubs.

"I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club," he told Chelsea's official website after being announced as manager.

"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."

But what will he bring to Chelsea, and what are his credentials? Here are 10 of the most impressive statistics from Potter's coaching career to date.

– Potter leaves Brighton with them sitting fourth in the table. That’s despite Brighton having the lowest net spend in the Premier League this summer, having made a profit of approximately £59million. The manager now leaves for the club with the highest summer net spend of approximately £205million.

– Brighton only have the 15th highest wagebill in the Premier League. With a total estimated salary of £30.7million. He now goes to a club with a wagebill over five times that - Chelsea boast the Premier League’s second largest wagebill with a total estimated salary of £158.6million (figures via Spotrac). – Last season, Potter led Brighton to ninth in the Premier League. That’s the club’s highest placing in the English football pyramid in history.

– The underlying statistics bear that out. Last season, Potter’s Seagulls registered the seventh-best expected goals difference of +0.50xG and the sixth-lowest expected goals against of 45.4xGA.

– Potter has led Brighton to back-to-back victories against Manchester United, who are likely to be one of Chelsea’s main rivals for a top-four finish this season. The Seagulls beat United 4-0 at the Amex in May before a 2-1 away win at Old Trafford in Erik Ten Hag’s first competitive match in charge.

– Brentford have been one of English football’s biggest success stories in recent years, but Potter maintains a 100% win record against them. He led Swansea City to three successive wins against Thomas Frank’s Bees and last season his Brighton completed a league double against them.

– While Tuchel’s Chelsea suffered a bruising 3-0 defeat to Leeds United last month, the following week Potter’s Brighton beat them 1-0. In fact, under Potter, the Seagulls are unbeaten in five Premier League meetings with the high-intensity Yorkshire outfit (three wins; two draws). In those five games, they’ve only conceded one goal.

– As well as leading Ostersunds to three promotions, he also delivered the only major trophy in the club’s history, the Swedish Cup in 2017. – In 2022, Brighton have only picked up two fewer points in the Premier League than Chelsea. They’re sixth and seventh respectively in the table for the calendar year.

– Potter’s sides have beaten teams managed by Arsene Wenger, Mikel Arteta, Marcelo Bielsa, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag, Brendan Rodgers, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez.