Chelsea have confirmed the departure of Enzo Maresca, with the 45-year-old leaving his position as head coach less than six months after winning the Club World Cup.
The Blues have only been victorious in one of their last seven Premier League matches, including a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Maresca did not hold a press conference after the Bournemouth clash after allegedly falling ill, but it is understood that growing tension with senior figures at Stamford Bridge had left his position untenable.
Chelsea finished fourth in the Premier League last season in addition to winning the Conference League, while Maresca led the Blues to success in the Club World Cup last summer, beating Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
The Blues are currently fifth in the Premier League table, just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, while they are 13th in the overall Champions League table.
Chelsea were allegedly planning to assess Maresca's position at the end of the season, but the Italian's unhappiness with his working conditions led to the decision being made sooner, with the search for a replacement now underway.
"Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company," read a statement from Chelsea.
"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 to the Club.
"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. We wish Enzo well for the future."
A former Leicester boss, Maresca, was appointed as successor to Mauricio Pochettino in June 2024. His contract was due to run until 2029, with the club holding an option for a further 12 months. Maresca’s final match was Tuesday evening’s 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth.
Chelsea return to action on Sunday away to Manchester City, the first of nine fixtures across four competitions during a packed January schedule.
Liam Rosenior, the head coach of French club Strasbourg, who are owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo, has emerged as the early favourite to replace Maresca among bookmakers.
Former Barcelona head coach Xavi, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola are other potential candidates.
