Enzo Maresca has left his position as Chelsea head coach after 18 months in cost at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian departs after a breakdown in relations with the membership and a run of poor outcomes – one win from the final seven Premier League video games – that has left them 15 factors adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea count on to announce a brand new head coach in a matter of days, with Liam Rosenior, presently supervisor at Strasbourg – a associate membership of Chelsea having been purchased by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s BlueCo group – one in every of a handful of candidates who will likely be thought-about as a substitute.
Sky Sports activities Information had reported that Maresca was on the point of a Stamford Bridge exit and Chelsea – who face Manchester Metropolis stay on Sky Sports activities on Sunday – confirmed the information in an announcement on New Yr’s Day.
It learn: “Chelsea Soccer Membership and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted firm.
“Throughout his time on the membership, Enzo led the workforce to success within the UEFA Convention League and the FIFA Membership World Cup. These achievements will stay an vital a part of the membership’s latest historical past, and we thank him for his contributions to the membership.
“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 exit means Chelsea are in search of a fourth everlasting managerial appointment since American investor Todd Boehly and personal fairness agency Clearlake Capital purchased the membership in Could 2022.
Everlasting Chelsea managers beneath Todd Boehly
Sunday 4th January 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
Strained relations, poor outcomes and cryptic feedback
Maresca joined Chelsea in June 2024 and gained the Membership World Cup and Convention League, in addition to attaining a fourth-placed Premier League end final season to safe Champions League qualification.
However relations have been strained between Maresca and key figures on the membership going again to this time final 12 months.
Lacking his post-match press convention after a chaotic 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday was one other signal of the issues behind the scenes, though his absence was attributed to sickness.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Chelsea and Bournemouth
The Italian stood by the feedback he made on December 13 when he claimed that many individuals on the membership weren’t supporting him or the workforce.
He described the times main as much as the 2-0 victory over Everton as “the worst 48 hours” of his time on the membership.
A number of days after his feedback, stories emerged that Maresca might exchange Pep Guardiola at Manchester Metropolis – hyperlinks which Maresca described as “100 per cent speculation”.
Maresca’s inventory was excessive after Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-0 in November and sat three factors off the highest of the desk, however Chelsea have dropped off the Premier League tempo and lacklustre performances in opposition to Aston Villa and Bournemouth over the vacation interval elevated the strain.
Maresca, who served as an assistant to Guardiola, was appointed Chelsea head coach in June 2024 on a five-year contract, changing Mauricio Pochettino. He had left the Etihad to affix Leicester in 2023, the place he gained the Championship title.
‘Chelsea need head coach who will not go off-script’
Evaluation from Sky Sports activities Information’ Kaveh Solhekol:
“It has been painted as a mutual decision.
“It is extremely uncommon for managers or head coaches to resign as a result of usually they do not get a payoff, however Maresca is somebody who may be very proud. I feel he feels that he couldn’t keep it up working at Chelsea.
“At the same time, Chelsea felt that now was the right time for a change.
“The primary motive? Outcomes. They merely haven’t been ok. Chelsea have gained solely one in every of their previous seven Premier League video games they usually have dropped 20 factors from successful positions within the league and Champions League this season.
“The second reason is because I believe there have been disagreements behind the scenes about return-to-play protocols for injured players. Chelsea have an independent medical department who have the final say. From Chelsea’s point of view, their head coach will never have the final say when it comes to that.
“Another excuse, from Chelsea’s perspective I feel, is Maresca being linked with different jobs like Juventus and Manchester Metropolis. There could have been a way from contained in the membership that these hyperlinks had been a distraction and coincided with a dip in kind and outcomes.
“There have been clues that not all has been well behind the scenes, such as Tuesday night when Maresca did not hold a post-match press conference after the draw with Bournemouth because, we were told, he was ill.
“It has added to a way of volatility on the membership however the sense is that issues haven’t been proper on the membership for a while.
“This is Chelsea we are talking about – there is always something happening and the owners want to get away from that and get in someone as a head coach who is going to coach the team and buy into how the club is run – somebody is who is not going to go off-script.”
Key figures at Chelsea beneath Todd Boehly
Rosenior subsequent for Chelsea?
Liam Rosenior is presently supervisor at Strasbourg
Sky Sports activities Information’ Kaveh Solhekol:
“There is expectation around Liam Rosenior. Would Chelsea be worried that he is inexperienced? His only managerial experience in English football has been at Hull City. But I was told: ‘Look at Enzo Maresca’.
“There’s a feeling at Chelsea that it would not be that a lot of a danger to show to Rosenior, however in fact it could be a large step up for him, to go from Strasbourg in Ligue 1 to managing one of many greatest golf equipment on this planet.
“Rosenior, however, is just one of the candidates.”
Chelsea’s January fixtures
Maresca’s successor will take over a facet which are preventing on 4 fronts.
Chelsea sit fifth within the Premier League, are on target for Champions League knockout qualification, have an FA Cup third-round tie at Charlton this month and face a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final in opposition to Arsenal, stay on Sky Sports activities.
- Sunday January 4: Man Metropolis (A) – Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm (stay on Sky Sports activities)
- Wednesday January 7: Fulham (A) – Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm (stay on Sky Sports activities)
- Saturday January 10: Charlton (A) – FA Cup, kick-off 8pm (stay on Sky Sports activities)
- Wednesday January 14: Arsenal (H) – Carabao Cup, kick-off 8pm (stay on Sky Sports activities)
- Saturday January 17: Brentford (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
- Wednesday January 21: Pafos (H) – Champions League, kick-off 8pm
- Sunday January 25: Crystal Palace (A) – Premier League, kick-off 2pm (stay on Sky Sports activities)
- Wednesday January 28: Napoli (A) – Champions League, kick-off 8pm
- Saturday January 31: West Ham (H) – Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm (stay on Sky Sports activities)
