By Victor Eludire | Sports Correspondent
Chelsea have parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca following emergency talks held on New Year’s Day, after a breakdown in relations between the Italian and the club’s hierarchy. The 45-year-old will no longer be in charge for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Manchester City, bringing an end to his 18-month spell in west London.
Maresca leaves Stamford Bridge after a largely successful tenure that delivered the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, and saw him recently named Premier League Manager of the Month for November. However, tensions escalated after what was described internally as his “worst 48 hours,” during which he made cryptic public comments and declined to clarify their meaning to club executives.
The former Leicester City boss had been appointed in the summer of 2024 after guiding the Foxes to the Championship title and promotion. In his debut season with Chelsea, Maresca led the Blues back to the Champions League with a fourth-place finish, ending a two-year absence from Europe’s elite competition while also securing continental silverware.
Chelsea’s decision follows a significant dip in form during Maresca’s second season. A recent 2-2 draw with Bournemouth meant the Blues have dropped a league-high 15 points from winning positions, slipping from early title contention to fifth place, and closer to the relegation zone than the summit. Despite the club backing him during a similar slump last winter, concerns grew that performances were falling short of the squad’s perceived potential.
In total, Maresca managed 78 matches for Chelsea, recording 44 wins, 18 draws and 16 defeats, and winning two major trophies. In a statement, Chelsea thanked him for his contributions, stating that while his achievements will remain an important part of the club’s recent history, both parties agreed a change was necessary to give the team the best chance of achieving its objectives, including Champions League qualification.
