Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea manager with immediate effect after the Italian and the London club experienced a breakdown in relations following a disappointing run of results.
According to reports, RC Strasbourg’s Liam Rosenior is currently leading the race to replace Maresca, with confirmation of a successor expected in the next couple of days.
It will be Chelsea’s fourth permanent managerial appointment since owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took the reins in mid 2022.
Chelsea thank Maresca
In a statement released on New Year’s Day, the Blues confirmed the news and thanked Maresca for his work at the club.
“Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company,” read the statement.
“During his time at the club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
“Those achievements will remain an important part of the club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the club.
“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.”
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Reasons for departure
Maresca decided his position at Chelsea had become untenable in the wake of a poor festive period, one that saw the Blues pick up a solitary win from seven games to fall 15 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The Italian also felt that he was being undermined by the club’s medical department, with a number of disagreements eventually leading Maresca to publicly criticise the Chelsea hierarchy after a game against Everton in December.
Chelsea, meanwhile, maintained that medical advice regarding players’ workloads did not translate to interference with the head coach’s role and believed Maresca to be out of line for his public comments.
And given the club’s unsatisfactory results, Todd Boehly and the rest of the Blues’ board were considering sacking Maresca anyway before ultimately coming to a mutual agreement with the former Leicester City manager.
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Rosenior lined up
With Maresca out the door, Chelsea are reportedly lining up Strasbourg manager Rosenior as his replacement, with the Ligue 1 club sharing ownership with the London side.
The 41-year-old Englishman turned out for Bristol City, Fulham, Reading, Hull City and Brighton in his playing days before retiring in 2018.
He then coached Hull in the Championship, almost taking the Tigers to the play-offs in 2024, before heading to France and finishing seventh with Strasbourg last term.
Despite speculation, reports have suggested that the Blues are unlikely to move for Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Cesc Fabregas (Como), Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) or Roberto De Zerbi (Marseille).
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SportJustSport writers