Enzo Maresca has left Chelsea after 18 months in charge, with the club expected to announce a new head coach within days. The Italian departs having won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League, but a poor run of league form and internal issues ultimately brought his tenure to an end.
Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League and sit 15 points behind leaders Arsenal, having recorded just one win in their last seven top-flight matches. Sky Sports News reports that Maresca’s departure was unanimously agreed by the club’s board following a breakdown in relations and a series of disappointing results.
Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Maresca. Chelsea are not expected to pursue other high-profile coaches such as Oliver Glasner, Cesc Fàbregas, Andoni Iraola or Roberto De Zerbi, with Rosenior now considered the frontrunner for the role. Maresca is understood to have stepped aside after concluding that his position had become untenable, while the club had also been weighing the option of dismissing him. Concerns reportedly included results on the pitch, his public comments, disagreements with the medical department and speculation linking him with other clubs.
His exit means Chelsea are searching for a fourth permanent head coach since the takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in May 2022. The club confirmed the decision in a statement released on New Year’s Day.Chelsea said Maresca guided the team to success in the Conference League and Club World Cup, achievements the club described as an important part of its recent history. The statement added that, with key objectives still to be pursued across four competitions, both parties felt a change would give the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.
Maresca joined Chelsea in June 2024 and also secured a fourth-place Premier League finish last season, earning qualification for the Champions League. However, tensions with senior figures at the club had been building for months. His absence from a post-match press conference after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday, officially attributed to illness, was seen as the latest indication of problems behind the scenes.
Source: https://www.skysports.com/
