Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has left his role at the football club and is fifth in the Premier League.
As reported by BBC, the 45-year-old Italian manager left less than six months after winning the Club World Cup at the end of the first season at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca delighted key figures at Stamford Bridge, including sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart and influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali, by guiding Chelsea to a top four finish last year and winning the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup.
The Chelsea manager’s departure, followed by a spectacular breakdown in the relationship between the Italian and his bosses at Stamford Bridge, had made his position untenable.
The decision was made by mutual agreement between both the manager and Chelsea Club.
In a club statement, the Blues said: “Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted ways.”
“With important objectives still to be achieved in four competitions, including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the Club believe a change will give the team the best chance of getting the season back on track,” Chelsea said.
The club said: “During his time at the club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
“These achievements will remain an important part of the club’s recent history and we thank him for his contributions to the club.”
Maresca had hoped to raise his profile following the Blues’ successes through opportunities away from the club.
He planned to publish a book before he was blocked and spoke at Il Festival dello Sport – an event in Italy organized by the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport – without the club’s permission.
Chelsea initially planned to review his position at the end of the season if results improved, but Maresca’s unhappiness was a factor in their early parting.
Furthermore, speculation about a rift with the Chelsea hierarchy had grown after Maresca claimed that following his side’s 2–0 win over Everton on 13 December 2025, he endured his ‘worst 48 hours’ at the club because ‘many people did not support me and the team.’
The former Chelsea manager believed the pressure on him was unfair given what he said were difficult working conditions and the fact that a line had been crossed in terms of attempts to influence his team selection.
He felt supporters’ expectations needed to be managed as to what was achievable, especially given the serious injuries to Colwill and striker Cole Palmer.
