Chelsea Football Club Parts Ways with Head Coach Enzo Maresca

Chelsea Football Club has officially parted ways with Head Coach Enzo Maresca, despite the 45-year-old’s contributions that included a Club World Cup victory and Champions League qualification last season. The decision follows Maresca’s recent comments expressing discontent regarding support from the club’s board, which raised questions about his future.

A statement from the club read: “Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company. 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. With key objectives still in play across four competitions, including Champions League qualification, both Enzo and the club believe that a change is necessary to enhance the team’s chances of getting the season back on track. We wish Enzo all the best for his future endeavors.”

Portugal international Neto, who joined Chelsea from Wolves in the summer of 2024, expressed his sadness over Maresca’s departure. The winger acknowledged the significant impact the coach had on his development and thanked him for his support. “Initially, I was a bit surprised by the news because the manager did very well for us,” Neto told Sky Sports. “He had an outstanding season last year and was performing well this year as well. Personally, it’s sad for me because he helped me grow a lot, and I’ve learned so much from him. All I can say is ‘thank you.’”

In the interim, Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane will lead the senior team on their upcoming match against Manchester City this Sunday. Meanwhile, Liam Rosenior of Strasbourg has emerged as the frontrunner to become Chelsea’s next head coach. Both clubs are owned by BlueCo, which could facilitate this appointment. However, Rosenior has remained tight-lipped about the speculation, saying, “I’m here to talk about Nice because that’s my job. There’s a lot of noise and speculation, but as a coach, if you get involved, you fail. My focus is on my current role, and I love this club.”

As Chelsea prepares for a crucial match against Manchester City, currently in second place, they will also face local rivals Fulham shortly after, followed by an FA Cup campaign kickoff against Charlton Athletic on January 10.