After 18 months in charge, Enzo Maresca has stepped down as head coach of Chelsea, the Premier League club said today.
A statement from Chelsea Football Club announced the separation of the club and head coach Enzo Maresca.
According to AFP, the Italian’s departure from Stamford Bridge comes as the club is in fifth place in the Premier League, 15 points behind champions and London rivals Arsenal. They have only managed one victory in their past seven games in the top division.
As Chelsea’s recent form declined, rumors of a deteriorating relationship between Maresca and the club’s upper management circulated, fueling speculation over the coach’s future with the club.
“Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track,” stated the club in a statement. “With key objectives still to play for across four competitions, including qualification for Champions League football,” the statement continued.
Despite being ruled out with illness, Maresca did not show up to the news conference that followed Tuesday’s tense 2-2 tie with Bournemouth.
He has maintained his stance from December 13 when he claimed that a large portion of Chelsea’s fan base did not back him or the squad.
According to Maresca, “the worst 48 hours” of his Chelsea career were in the days preceding the 2-0 win over Everton.
His original deal was to end in the summer of 2029, but the club had the option to extend it by another year.
In 2025, under Maresca’s leadership, Chelsea won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup. They also made it back into the Champions League.
About the Author
