Sharjah24: Chelsea Football Club announced the departure of Italian head coach Enzo Maresca following a dispute with the club’s management. The London club, currently fifth in the Premier League, confirmed that the decision came after weeks of tension between the two sides.
Successful start but recent decline
Maresca, 45, who replaced Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2024, enjoyed a successful first season, guiding Chelsea back to the UEFA Champions League. His debut campaign also included winning the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, Chelsea lost momentum in recent weeks, recording just one win in their last seven league matches.
Official statement and league position
In a statement, the club said that Chelsea and Enzo Maresca had mutually agreed to terminate their contract. The Italian departs Stamford Bridge with the team sitting fifth in the league, 15 points behind leaders and London rivals Arsenal.
Growing tensions and missed media duties
Speculation over Maresca’s future intensified amid poor results and reports of a deteriorating relationship with the board. He also missed a post-match press conference following a 2–2 draw with Bournemouth, with his absence attributed to illness. Previously, Maresca had stated that many within the club did not support him or the team, describing one period as the “worst 48 hours” of his time at Chelsea.
Contract details and upcoming fixtures
Maresca’s contract was due to run until the summer of 2029, with an option for a further year. Chelsea return to action on Sunday with an away match against Manchester City, beginning a demanding January schedule of nine matches across four competitions.
Potential successors
Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior, whose club is owned by BlueCo, Chelsea’s parent company, is among the candidates to replace Maresca, despite his lack of Premier League experience. Other names linked to the role include former Barcelona coach Xavi, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.
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