Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea head coach after less than 18 months in charge, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 45-year-old Italian departs Stamford Bridge with the club sitting fifth in the Premier League, 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal. His exit comes just six months after he led the Blues to victory in the FIFA Club World Cup, adding to the UEFA Conference League title won during his first season.
In a statement released on New Year’s Day, Chelsea said: “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.”
While Maresca’s tenure delivered silverware, his departure follows a dismal run of domestic form. Chelsea have won just one of their past seven league matches, taking only six points throughout December. However, sources indicate that the separation was driven as much by a breakdown in relationships behind the scenes as it was by results on the pitch.
“Success turned to sourness”
Despite a contract running until 2029 and early approval from key figures—including sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart—friction between Maresca and the club’s hierarchy had been mounting for months.
Tensions spilled into the public sphere in December following Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Everton—their only league win of the month. In a comment that stunned club staff, Maresca described the lead-up to the match as his “worst 48 hours” since joining the club. The remarks, made without prior warning to senior management, were viewed as a significant breach of protocol.
The discord extended beyond press conferences. Maresca had reportedly clashed with the board over transfer strategy, specifically his desire to sign a central defender after Levi Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season. The club refused, citing fears that a new signing would block the pathway for academy prospect Josh Acheampong—a stance that forced the manager to back down.
A relationship beyond repair
Off the pitch, the Italian’s increasing independence also caused unease. He recently switched representation from the Wasserman agency to Jorge Mendes and had begun opting for personal clothing over official club tracksuits on matchdays.
Further points of contention included Maresca’s unauthorised appearance at Il Festival dello Sport in Italy and a blocked attempt to publish a book, which the club felt was inappropriate given the timing.
The situation reached a breaking point following Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on December 30. Assistant manager Willy Caballero handled post-match media duties, claiming Maresca was unwell, though it is understood his absence was driven by disillusionment. Tellingly, Maresca was entirely absent from the club’s end-of-year social media review posted on New Year’s Eve.
What’s next for Chelsea?
Maresca maintained that the pressure placed upon him was unfair, particularly given the injury crisis affecting key players like Colwill and Cole Palmer. He believed expectations regarding his young squad needed to be tempered.
Chelsea had initially planned to review Maresca’s position at the end of the season, but the deteriorating atmosphere forced an accelerated decision. The Blues must now regroup quickly ahead of a daunting schedule; they face second-placed Manchester City on Sunday, kicking off a difficult month that includes fixtures against Arsenal and Napoli.
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