Chelsea part ways with Coach Maresca after just 18 months

Italian – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Chelsea have announced that Enzo Maresca has departed as head coach after 18 months at the helm.
In an official statement, the club said, “Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have mutually agreed to part ways.”
The Italian leaves Stamford Bridge with the team sitting fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind London rivals and leaders Arsenal, and having secured just one victory in their last seven league matches.
Maresca’s future had been under increasing scrutiny amid Chelsea’s disappointing run of form, with reports suggesting growing tensions between the coach and the club’s management.

“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,” said the club statement.

Enzo Maresca leaves Chelsea as head coach after 18 months in charge.

Club statement: parting of ways is mutual, aiming to reset team’s season.

Chelsea sits fifth in Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Only one win in last seven league matches; poor home results contributed to pressure.

Fans booed Maresca for controversial substitutions, including Cole Palmer vs Bournemouth.

Maresca did not attend the post-match press conference following a frantic 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday, although his absence was attributed to illness.

Maresca’s decision to substitute Cole Palmer just after the hour mark during the Bournemouth game was booed by Chelsea fans.

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The draw meant Chelsea had dropped 13 points at home from winning positions this season — the bulk of the 15-point deficit between the Blues and Arsenal.

Maresca has stood by comments made on December 13 after a league win at home to Everton when he said many people at Chelsea “didn’t support me and the team”.

He repeatedly refused to clarify the comments, although he insisted they were not an attack on the club’s supporters.

The 45-year-old said the days leading up to the 2-0 victory over Everton were “the worst 48 hours” of his time at Chelsea.

Maresca’s stock at Chelsea was high after the Blues beat Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League in November.

But damaging defeats by Leeds, Atalanta and Villa increased the pressure on the Blues boss.

Maresca’s contract had been due to run until the summer of 2029, with a club option of a further year.

The former Leicester manager was appointed as successor to Mauricio Pochettino in June 2024.

Chelsea won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025 and Maresca also led them back into the Champions League via a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

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The Blues return to action on Sunday away to Manchester City, the first of nine fixtures across four competitions during a congested January schedule.

Liam Rosenior — the head coach of French club Strasbourg, owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo, a consortium headed up by US billionaire businessman Todd Boehly — is a candidate to replace Maresca even though the Englishman is a relatively young manager at 41 and lacks Premier League experience.

Former Barcelona head coach Xavi, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola are other potential contenders to succeed Maresca at Stamford Bridge.