Maresca leaves Chelsea after turbulent end to 2025
Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea manager with the club sitting fifth in the Premier League.
The Italian, 45, leaves less than six months after winning the Club World Cup at the end of his first season at Stamford Bridge.
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“With key objectives still to be achieved in four competitions, including qualification for the Champions League, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track,” Chelsea said.
The Blues have won just one of their last seven league matches and have taken just six points from six matches in December, finding themselves 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.
But the results are only a small part of the story.
Maresca, whose contract was due to run until 2029, delighted key figures at Stamford Bridge – including sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, as well as influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali – by taking Chelsea into the top four and winning the Conference League and Club World Cup last year.
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But success quickly turns into bitterness in his relations with the hierarchy.
Maresca stunned even members of his own staff when – after beating Everton 2-0 for Chelsea’s one-time Premier League victory in December – he said “a lot of people” had had it “the worst 48 hours” since he joined the club.
These comments came without any warning to club staff or senior management, who would have preferred the discussions to remain private.
The relationship between the owners and manager was now beyond repair, but friction had been brewing over the preceding months.
Maresca had hoped to make a name for himself following the Blues’ success through opportunities outside the club. He was considering publishing a book before being blocked and spoke at the Festival dello Sport – an event in Italy organized by newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport – without permission from the club.
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He also made public his disagreement with the club not signing a central defender after Levi Colwill injured his anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season. The club’s hierarchy explained that this could prompt academy prospect Josh Acheampong to request a transfer, which ultimately led to Maresca backing out.
The former Leicester manager also changed agents – from the Wasserman Agency to Jorge Mendes – and has been mooted as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, who Maresca fired.
Additionally, he increasingly avoids wearing club tracksuits and instead opts for his own clothes.
After his last match for Chelsea – a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on December 30 – assistant manager Willy Caballero said Maresca felt too unwell to carry out his post-match media duties, but it is understood his absence was more down to him considering his next steps.
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It was notable that when Chelsea posted a 52-second video on social media on New Year’s Eve summing up their year, there was no trace of Maresca.
The Italian, for his part, felt the pressure placed on him was unfair given what he saw as difficult working conditions and that a line had been crossed in terms of attempts to influence his team selection.
Although he was not upset about overseeing a young team, he felt supporters’ expectations needed to be managed as to what was achievable – particularly given key injuries to Colwill and striker Cole Palmer.
Chelsea had initially planned to evaluate their position at the end of the season if results improved, but Maresca’s dissatisfaction was a factor in them parting ways early.
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Chelsea’s Spanish full-back Marc Cucurella reacted to the news of his coach’s departure with a message on Instagram that read: “Thank you for everything, sir, and to your staff. For the work and trust from the first day, and for the memories!”
“I wish you all the best for the future. Good luck, boss!”
What future for Chelsea?
As things stand, the Blues will face Manchester City on Sunday without a manager and it is unclear who will take charge of training until then.
Caballero, who left Leicester alongside Maresca in 2024, replaced the Italian when the Italian served sideline bans, and with no announcement yet on his future, he could be an option.
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When it comes to deciding on a permanent appointment, former Hull boss Liam Rosenior, who impressed as Strasbourg manager – part of the same multi-club ownership structure as Chelsea, will be a candidate.
Eghbali met Marseille manager Roberto de Zerbi this summer and the club admire his work. They also interviewed Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna and Spurs manager Thomas Frank before appointing Maresca.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and his Bournemouth counterpart Andoni Iraola are also likely to be considered.
