Enzo Maresca has left his position as Chelsea manager by mutual consent. Chelsea are fifth in the Premier League at the time of his departure. He leaves less than six months after winning the Club World Cup at the end of his first season.
Chelsea won only one of their final seven league matches under Maresca. The team collected six points from six games in December and fell 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal. His contract was due to run until 2029.
Chelsea said both the club and Maresca believed a change would give the team the best chance to get the season back on track, with Champions League qualification and four competitions still in play.
Despite recent poor results, Maresca had earlier impressed the club hierarchy. He guided Chelsea to a top-four league finish and won the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025.
Tensions grew between Maresca and club management. He made public comments about having his “worst 48 hours” at the club after a win, spoke at an Italian sports event without permission, and was blocked from publishing a book. He also publicly disagreed with the club’s decision not to sign a central defender after Levi Colwill’s ACL injury.
Maresca felt pressure from the club regarding team selection and believed expectations around results with a young squad and key injuries were unrealistic. After a 2–2 draw with Bournemouth on December 30, he did not attend media duties, citing illness.
Chelsea’s next match is against Manchester City, followed by fixtures against Arsenal and Napoli.
Liam Rosenior Front-Runner to Succeed Enzo Maresca as Chelsea Manager
Liam Rosenior has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca as Chelsea manager. Rosenior is currently head coach of Strasbourg, a club owned by Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, and has spent the last two seasons working within the same ownership group.
Rosenior, 41, impressed earlier in his coaching career at Hull City, where he narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs before being sacked. BlueCo later appointed him at Strasbourg, where he finished seventh last season and qualified for the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea expects strong interest in the role, with the club in the Champions League and still competing near the top of the Premier League. The club’s recent managers have ranged from young, Guardiola-influenced coaches like Maresca to experienced Premier League figures such as Mauricio Pochettino and Graham Potter, as well as established European names like Thomas Tuchel.
Among other young coaches mentioned is Cesc Fàbregas, who is in his first managerial role at Como in Serie A. After retiring in 2023, he stayed on at the club and has guided them to sixth place this season.
Best of the Premier League
From the Premier League, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is seen as a strong option after winning the FA Cup and qualifying for Europe. He is out of contract in the summer. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is also noted for his high-intensity style, despite a recent poor run of results.
Short-term or caretaker appointments are considered unlikely. Frank Lampard previously filled that role in 2023 but is now managing Coventry City. Other former Chelsea players in coaching roles include Ashley Cole, part of England’s coaching staff, and John Terry, who works with Chelsea’s academy.
High-profile managers such as Zinedine Zidane, Xavi Hernández, Jürgen Klopp, Gareth Southgate, and Unai Emery are available or linked, but Chelsea are not expected to pursue this route due to the major structural changes it would require.
Foreign coaches also mentioned include Thiago Motta, Marco Rose, and Porto’s Francesco Farioli, though Rosenior is currently viewed as the front-runner.
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