Chelsea have parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca following a difficult end to the 2025 calendar year, with the club currently sitting fifth in the Premier League.
The 45-year-old Italian exits Stamford Bridge less than six months after guiding the Blues to Club World Cup glory, capping what had initially been a highly successful first season in charge.
In a statement, Chelsea said both parties agreed that a change was necessary to revive the team’s momentum as the club continues to compete on multiple fronts.
“With crucial objectives still to be achieved across four competitions, including Champions League qualification, the Club and Enzo believe a change will give the team the best opportunity to get back on track,” the statement read.
Chelsea’s league form deteriorated sharply in December, managing just one win in seven matches and collecting six points from six games. The slump saw them fall 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Despite the downturn, Maresca had previously earned the trust of senior figures at the club, including sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, as well as co-owner Behdad Eghbali. Under his leadership, Chelsea secured a top-four finish last season and lifted both the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup.
However, relations between Maresca and the club’s hierarchy reportedly became strained in recent months. Tensions surfaced publicly after Chelsea’s only league win in December, when Maresca claimed he had experienced his “worst 48 hours” at the club — comments that caught both staff and executives off guard.
Behind the scenes, disagreements had already emerged. Maresca was frustrated by the club’s refusal to sign a central defender following Levi Colwill’s anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season. Chelsea officials argued that such a move could disrupt academy planning, a stance Maresca eventually accepted.
The coach also clashed with the club over off-field matters, including plans to publish a book and attend a sports festival in Italy without prior approval. His decision to change agents and speculation linking him to a future Manchester City role added further strain.
Signs of disengagement became increasingly visible, with Maresca often opting out of wearing club attire and missing post-match media duties following Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on December 30. The club later attributed his absence to illness, though sources suggest growing dissatisfaction played a role.
Notably, Maresca was absent from Chelsea’s end-of-year social media recap, fuelling speculation about his future even before the official announcement.
While Chelsea had initially planned to review Maresca’s position at the end of the season, his unhappiness with internal pressure — particularly over team selection — accelerated the decision to separate.
Chelsea now face a demanding run of fixtures, starting with a clash against second-placed Manchester City on Sunday, followed by matches against Arsenal and Napoli as they enter a decisive phase of the season.
