Enzo Maresca has departed as Chelsea manager after 18 months in charge, following a poor run of form and a reported deterioration in his relationship with the club's hierarchy. The Italian guided Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League last season, along with victories in the Conference League and Club World Cup, but recent results left them 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. Chelsea believe a change will help salvage their season across four competitions.
Chelsea Football Club confirmed on New Year's Day that Enzo Maresca has left his position as head coach, with the club sitting fifth in the Premier League after winning just one of their last seven league matches. The 45-year-old Italian's departure comes amid a turbulent second season, marked by a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth that extended their winless run to nine games and drew boos from supporters.
In a statement, Chelsea said: "With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track." Maresca's cryptic post-match comments after a 2-0 win over Everton on December 13, describing the preceding 48 hours as his "worst" at the club due to lack of support, highlighted growing tensions. Reports indicate a complete breakdown in his relationship with the ownership, exacerbated by disagreements over tactics, squad selection, and off-field behavior.
Maresca's tenure began promisingly after joining from Leicester in June 2024. In his first full season, Chelsea finished fourth to return to the Champions League and won the Conference League. They also lifted the Club World Cup in July 2025, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final in New Jersey. However, this season's inconsistencies, including defensive vulnerabilities and injuries to key players like Levi Colwill, have seen them slip from title contenders to mid-table.
Assistant manager Willy Caballero deputised for media duties after the Bournemouth draw, citing Maresca's illness, though sources suggest he was contemplating his future. Chelsea's next match is against second-placed Manchester City on Sunday, with Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane expected to take interim charge.
Liam Rosenior, currently at BlueCo-owned Strasbourg, emerges as the leading candidate to replace Maresca, having impressed with a seventh-place Ligue 1 finish last season. Other names in consideration include Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, and Xavi Hernandez. Maresca's exit makes Chelsea the fifth permanent managerial change under their American ownership since May 2022, amid ongoing squad-building efforts that have cost hundreds of millions.
