Chelsea have parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca midway through the Premier League season, ending the Italian manager’s tenure less than six months after he lifted the Club World Cup with the club.
The decision was confirmed by Chelsea on Wednesday with the team sitting fifth in the league and still competing across multiple competitions. In a statement, the club said both sides agreed that a change was needed to steady the campaign and protect their push for Champions League qualification.
“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,” Chelsea said.
Chelsea’s form had slipped sharply in recent weeks, with just one league win from their last seven matches. A run of six points from six December fixtures left the Blues 15 points behind leaders Arsenal, according to league data reported by the BBC and Reuters.
However, sources close to the club indicate results alone did not seal Maresca’s exit. The 45 year old had impressed senior figures during his first season by guiding Chelsea into the top four and winning both the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup.
Despite those achievements, relations between Maresca and the ownership group deteriorated over time. Tensions intensified in December when Maresca publicly described a period following a rare league win as his “worst 48 hours” at the club, comments that reportedly caught club executives off guard.
The friction extended beyond match results. Maresca had sought opportunities outside the club following last season’s success, including plans to publish a book and appearances at an Italian sports festival, moves that were blocked or made without club approval.
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He also openly questioned the club’s decision not to sign a central defender after Levi Colwill suffered a serious knee injury during preseason. Chelsea executives argued that a new signing could disrupt the pathway of academy defender Josh Acheampong, a stance Maresca eventually accepted.
According to people familiar with the situation, Maresca believed there were increasing attempts to influence team selection and felt the pressure on him did not reflect the challenges of managing one of the youngest squads in the league, particularly with key injuries to Colwill and Cole Palmer.