Thomas Tuchel must overcome 19-year Chelsea challenge to rival Jose Mourinho success

If Thomas Tuchel wants to become the Chelsea boss with the most matches managed since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, he is over halfway there. The end goal is much bigger than that, but to achieve the long term goals, it's a good start.

There are currently only three names in front of him, which tells you a story in itself, as Tuchel has only been in London since February 2021, and barring a massive early season collapse, he will pass Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte by Christmas.

That would still only put him third in the list though, Jose Mourinho sits comfortably in first and second place for games in charge since June 2003. His first spell from June 2004 until September 2007 is the second longest at Chelsea since the 1980s.

In one sense this is all Tuchel has to do, manage one more full season at Stamford Bridge and he'll be sitting pretty in second place with not much more to go until becoming the holder of that small record. The issue is that the only man to enter a third season at Chelsea in this same time frame, as Tuchel is doing, is Mourinho.

It's a fact that has failed to escape many: Abramovich's trigger happy nature in order to find success in European football worked. Between Mourinho's first appointment - June 2004 - and March 2022 - there were only four trophyless campaigns. With 21 trophies in that time, it's hard to argue against it.

However, the Todd Boehly-Clearlake ownership model promises to be different. The demand for success with Europe's elite and more consistent and sustained efforts to win the Premier League will be required, but the new regime is one that will likely be built on more sustainable grounds.

This once again looks like it should make it easy for Tuchel to overtake