Overview
- Chelsea issued a New Year’s Day statement confirming Maresca’s departure 18 months into his tenure, noting Conference League and Club World Cup titles.
- Reporting from multiple outlets attributes the split primarily to a collapse in relations with senior leadership, including disputes over medical authority and selection autonomy.
- Maresca leaves with the team fifth in the Premier League after one win in seven, sitting 15 points behind leaders Arsenal following a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
- Recent flashpoints included cryptic remarks about his “worst 48 hours” at the club and his absence from the post‑match press conference after the Bournemouth game, which the club said was due to illness.
- Chelsea are moving quickly to appoint a successor, with Strasbourg’s Liam Rosenior widely reported as the leading candidate and an interim possible for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City; contract settlement details remain unclear.