Chelsea Manager has been SACKED with immidiate effect after Clash with Club owner

Chelsea’s decision-makers wasted no time implementing their plans for the upcoming year of 2026.

The fading echoes of celebratory fireworks had scarcely dissipated when the organization made official their separation from head coach Enzo Maresca. Though he had successfully secured a pair of honors during the course of 2025 and managed to guide the team back among England’s elite four clubs, the leadership at Chelsea determined it necessary to “restore momentum to the campaign” by bringing his year-and-a-half spell in charge to an unexpected end.

While this bold and decisive move demonstrates forward-thinking action, its timing coincides awkwardly with the congested holiday fixture period. There was a certain appropriateness to the fact that Chelsea’s social media announcement regarding Maresca’s exit appeared soon after publishing their schedule showing the nine matches squeezed into the month of January by itself.

This relentless run of fixtures kicks off with Sunday’s significant journey to Manchester City, who remain in contention for the championship. Considering Maresca’s connections to the Etihad club—with reports suggesting they have been exploring him as a possible replacement for Pep Guardiola—there exists an intriguing subplot to a match that already commands substantial attention.

With Maresca now potentially positioned to occupy the home technical area in Manchester this coming weekend, the question arises: who will be guiding Chelsea’s efforts?

The brief official communication from Chelsea regarding Maresca’s exit characterized it as a jointly agreed decision. “Both Enzo and the organization believe this change provides the squad with the optimal opportunity to restore the season’s trajectory,” the announcement stated. Nevertheless, the brief 99-word message contained no mention of arrangements for a replacement.

The status of Maresca’s coaching personnel remains uncertain. The previous Leicester City manager brought along a group of six assistants when he joined the club in 2024. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero stands out as the most notable member of this coaching collective and has been responsible for stepping in for Maresca throughout his several enforced absences from the touchline. As recently as this past week, Caballero handled media responsibilities in his superior’s place following reports that Maresca was experiencing illness.

Nevertheless, if Chelsea’s decision-makers choose to implement a complete overhaul, they might be drawn to temporarily promote U21 manager Calum McFarlane. The 40-year-old coach only joined the organization this past July following a two-year stint with Southampton’s developmental teams. Adding an interesting twist, McFarlane previously served at Manchester City’s youth academy, where his tenure intersected with Maresca’s single season heading up the U23 squad during the 2020–21 campaign.

At What Point Will Chelsea Name a Long-Term Replacement for Enzo Maresca?

Liam Rosenior already operates within the BlueCo network. The search for a permanent managerial appointment has commenced in earnest. According to Fabrizio Romano’s reporting, the club’s leadership remains optimistic about finalizing Maresca’s replacement within just a few days. Strasbourg’s Liam Rosenior received specific mention in that account and has been extensively discussed as the leading contender, particularly given that the French top-flight team functions as Chelsea’s affiliated club.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola—whose current agreement expires at season’s end—has similarly been proposed as a possibility, along with figures such as Xavi Hernández and Cesc Fàbregas. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner initially appeared to be included among these potential candidates, but The Athletic has indicated that the Austrian tactician “is not under consideration.”

Regardless of which direction the search takes, it appears extraordinarily improbable that any permanent hiring will be finalized prior to Sunday’s encounter at Manchester City.