Enzo Maresca leaves Chelsea after crisis talks as manager search begins

Chelsea have parted company with Enzo Maresca after just 18 months in charge, with a new managerial search already under way following crisis talks at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian’s departure was officially confirmed on New Year’s Day, bringing an abrupt end to a turbulent period that intensified over the past 24 hours. The timing is significant, coming only three days before Chelsea are due to face Manchester City in the Premier League.

In a statement, Chelsea said: “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.

“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.”

Behind the scenes, Maresca’s position had become increasingly untenable. According to reports, discussions over an exit package began late on New Year’s Eve, with the Chelsea board unanimous in their view that a change was required.

One of the central issues is understood to have been an ongoing dispute between Maresca and Chelsea’s medical department. Club leadership were adamant that decisions relating to player workload and welfare must remain autonomous from the head coach, a stance that caused friction internally.

From Maresca’s perspective, there was frustration over what he felt was a lack of protection from the hierarchy, alongside concerns about interference from ownership in football matters. Those tensions are believed to have contributed directly to the breakdown in relations.

Chelsea’s decision was also influenced by performances on the pitch. The club were alarmed by the number of points dropped from winning positions across both the Premier League and Champions League, with internal data reportedly highlighting around 20 points lost.

There were additional concerns about mentality and game management, feeding into doubts over whether Maresca could steer the squad through the second half of the season. It has also emerged that Maresca had already held preliminary talks with Manchester City, a development that surprised senior figures at Chelsea and raised questions about his focus.

As previously reported, Maresca’s absence from media duties after the Bournemouth match was not due to illness. He had opted not to speak publicly while assessing his future.

Chelsea have moved quickly to begin their search for a replacement and have no intention of altering their overall sporting model. The shortlist is believed to be small, with only a handful of candidates under consideration. Liam Rosenior is among the names discussed internally at this stage.

Despite the abrupt ending, Maresca leaves with silverware on his CV at Stamford Bridge, having guided Chelsea to both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup during his spell in charge.

Chelsea must now appoint an interim solution or fast-track a permanent replacement with a crucial run of fixtures approaching, starting with Manchester City. The club’s priority will be stabilising performances and maintaining their push for Champions League qualification while the longer-term appointment process continues behind the scenes.

Was Chelsea right to act now on Enzo Maresca — or should the club have backed him to turn the season around?