Graham Potter's profile: Facts about the new Chelsea coach

Graham Potter's profile: Facts about the new Chelsea coach

Helix Odhiambo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:11 PM

The former Brighton & Hove Albion manager made headlines following his appointment as the new Chelsea manager in September 2022. Graham is a familiar figure in English football. He is known for his aggressive style of play and versatile tactical approach. However, the biggest question is, does Graham Potter's profile fit the Blues?

Graham Potter's profile
Chelsea manager Graham Potter shakes hands with Hakim Ziyech at the end of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against RB Salzburg at Stamford Bridge on 14 September 2022. Photo: John Walton
Source: Getty Images

Graham replaced Thomas Tuchel, who was fired after disappointing results. He joins the Blues from Brighton after penning a five-year contract. This article explores his biography, tactics, and what to expect of him at Stamford Bridge.

Graham Potter's profile

Full name:

Graham Stephen Potter

Date of Birth:

20 May 1975

Age

47 (as of September 2022)

Place of Birth:

Solihull, England

Nationality:

English

Height:

1.85 m

Weight:

75 Kg

Profession:

Football manager, former player

Current team:

Chelsea

Teams coached:

Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City, Östersunds FK,

Spouse:

Rachel

Children:

Charlie, Sam, Theo

Annual salary:

$11.5 million

Net worth:

$1.5 million

Who is Graham Potter's father?

The English manager was born on 20 May 1975 to Steve and Val Potter. Therefore, Graham Potter's age is 47 (as of September 2022). He spent his childhood years in the English West Midlands. However, his father, Steve, passed away in January 2020, just six months after his mother, Val died.

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How tall is Graham Potter?

Potter is 1.85 m (6'1") tall and weighs an average weight of 75 kg. The 47-year-old also has blue eyes and blonde hair.

Did Graham Potter play football?

Graham Potter's age
York City's G. Potter (#11) controls the ball against Hull City during their Nationwide Division Three match at Hull's Boothferry Park ground on 25 January 2003. Photo: John Jones
Source: Getty Images

Graham is a former professional footballer who played left-back for several teams between the early 90s and 20s. He began his senior career playing for Birmingham City in 1992 and retired in 2005 after playing 57 games for Macclesfield Town.

Besides, he only earned one under-21 international cap for England but never played for the senior team. Other clubs he played for are:

  • Wycombe Wanderers
  • Stoke City
  • Southampton
  • West Bromwich Albion
  • Northampton Town
  • Northampton Town
  • Reading
  • York City
  • Boston United
  • Shrewsbury Town

Graham Potter, football manager

Graham Potter's coaching career began in 2011 when he took charge of the Swedish club Östersunds FK. Below are details of Graham Potter's teams coached in his career, from Swansea, Brighton & Hove Albion, and now Chelsea.

Östersunds FK

Potter joined the Swedish club in January 2011 and spent eight years there. He won multiple trophies, including the Svenska Cupen. He also helped the team reach the 2017-18 UEFA Europa League knockout round.

Swansea

In June 2018, he joined Swansea and guided the team to victory against Sheffield United in his first match on 4 August 2018. But unfortunately, the Swans finished 10th in the Championship table, thus failing to make it to the playoffs.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Graham Potter's teams coached
Former Brighton & Hove Albion coach Graham Potter with players after a 5-2 win over Leicester City in EPL at American Express Community Stadium on 4 September 2022, in Brighton. Photo: Robin Jones
Source: Getty Images

Potter signed a four-year contract with Brighton on 20 May 2019. He coached the club to a 3-0 victory against Watford in his first game. Despite the strong start, Graham's team finished 15th in the English Premier League table and avoided relegation.

Brighton dropped to 16th at the end of the 2020-21 season but improved in the next campaign. They finished 9th in the log with 51 points from 38 matches.

Chelsea

The Blues announced the signing of the English manager on 8 September 2022 after agreeing on a five-year contract. Graham, who replaced Thomas Tuchel, expressed his excitement to join the club through their website.

"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." Graham Potter

His first game in charge of the club ended in a 1-1 draw against RB Salzburg in their Champions League Group E match on 15 September 2022.

Graham Potter's Chelsea salary

The new Chelsea boss will earn $11.5 million annually at Stamford Bridge. He becomes the fourth highest-paid coach in the Premier League in the 2022-23 season.

Coach/team

Salary (Annually)

Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)

$21.8 million

Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

$18.3 million

Antonio Conte (Tottenhum)

$17.2 million

Graham Potter (Chelsea)

$11.5 million

Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City)

$11.5 million

Erik ten Hag (Manchester United)

$10.3 million

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

$9.5 million

Ralph Hasenhuttl (Southampton)

$6.9 million

Frank Lampard (Everton)

$5.7 million

David Moyes (West Ham)

$5.7 million

Graham's net worth

The former left-back has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. However, the figures are expected to increase after landing a new job that pays close to 6 times more than what he earned at Brighton.

Graham Potter's style of play

Graham Potter's tactics
The new Chelsea boss, Graham Potter, gives instructions to players during their Champions League match against RB Salzburg on 14 September 2022. Photo: Robin Jones
Source: Getty Images

Graham Potter's tactics vary from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2 with three-man defensive lines. He is regarded as one of the most tactical coaches in football. The Chelsea boss has also deployed 4-3-3, 5-4-1, and 3-4-2-1 formations with his teams.

Graham Potter's replacements

Potter's exit has raised debates on who is suitable for the vacancy at the Amex Stadium. Some potential contenders for the job include Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, Kjetil Knutsen, Thomas Frank of Brentford, and Luton manager Nathan Jones.

Who does Graham Potter support?

In January 2018, the Solihull-born manager revealed he grew up supporting Aston Villa with many of his friends. Meeting with two of Villa's 1982 European Cup winners as a young kid was the turning point. However, with time, Graham had to shift allegiance to the clubs he played for or coached.

"I think Ken McNaught and Peter Withe came to the Shirley British Legion! I don't think you'd get that these days, would you? After that, I was interested in Aston Villa. They had players like Gary Shaw and Tony Morley." Graham Potter.

Graham Potter's wife and kids

The Chelsea boss married his wife, Rachel, on 31 May 2003. The couple has three children, an eleven-year-old son called Charlie, and five-and-a-half-year-old twins named Sam and Theo.

Graham Potter's profile and versatile tactics could probably be ideal for Chelsea's football philosophy. Meanwhile, his most significant task will be to return the Blues to winning ways and challenge for major titles.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.