Chelsea Football Club have confirmed the departure of head coach Enzo Maresca, ending his tenure after just 18 months in charge at Stamford Bridge. The decision, announced on Thursday, January 1, 2026, comes amid a significant dip in form that has seen the Blues fall 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Strained Relations and Poor Results Force Change
The club released an official statement confirming the mutual separation, citing the need for a fresh start to salvage the season. Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, having managed a solitary victory in their last seven top-flight matches. This poor run intensified speculation about Maresca's future, with reports suggesting a breakdown in his relationship with the club's hierarchy.
"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," the statement read. The Italian manager, who was appointed in June 2024 to succeed Mauricio Pochettino, did not attend the post-match press conference after Tuesday's 2–2 home draw with Bournemouth, with the club citing illness.
A Promising Start Ends in Disappointment
Maresca's reign had shown early promise. He guided Chelsea to victory in the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025 and secured a return to the Champions League with a fourth-place finish last season. A notable 3–0 win over Barcelona in November highlighted the potential of his project.
However, the campaign unravelled quickly. Damaging defeats to Leeds, Atalanta, and Aston Villa piled on pressure. The draw with Bournemouth was emblematic of their struggles, where Maresca's decision to substitute star player Cole Palmer was met with boos from home fans. Chelsea have now dropped 13 points from winning positions at home this season, a statistic that accounts for much of the gap to Arsenal.
Tensions had been simmering for weeks. In December, after a win over Everton, Maresca claimed many at Chelsea "didn't support me and the team," though he later clarified he was not referring to the supporters. He described the period before that Everton match as "the worst 48 hours" of his time at the club.
Search for a Successor Begins Immediately
With Maresca's exit, Chelsea must now find a new manager to navigate a congested January schedule, starting with a tough away fixture against Manchester City on Sunday. The 45-year-old Italian leaves with a contract that was due to run until 2029.
The search for his replacement is already underway. Candidates reportedly include:
- Liam Rosenior: The 41-year-old head coach of Strasbourg, a club also owned by Chelsea's parent company BlueCo.
- Xavi: The former Barcelona manager.
- Oliver Glasner: The current Crystal Palace boss.
- Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola: Managers of Fulham and Bournemouth respectively.
The club's decision underscores the relentless pressure for immediate success at the highest level of English football, where even recent trophy wins are no guarantee of job security when league form falters.
