Chelsea Football Club confirmed on New Year's Day that they have parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca. This announcement followed reports from ESPN indicating a serious breakdown in relations between the Italian manager and the club's leadership. Maresca's 18-month tenure at Stamford Bridge concluded after a challenging period, marked by a run of only one win in seven Premier League games, leaving the side fifth in the EPL table. The pressure escalated after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, where Maresca faced chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” from frustrated fans following a substitution of Cole Palmer.

The official club statement, a concise 99-word announcement, refrained from explicitly stating a sacking, instead phrasing the departure as a mutual decision: “Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.” The statement acknowledged Maresca’s contributions, noting, “During his time at the club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Those achievements will remain an important part of the Club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the club.”

With a vacancy at Stamford Bridge, attention has turned to potential successors. Several candidates have been linked with the role, though some appear to be out of the running according to ESPN sources.

Liam Rosenior is considered a natural, albeit risky, choice due to his existing BlueCo links with Strasbourg. Rosenior, 41, previously managed Derby County on an interim basis before taking charge of Hull City for two seasons, from which he was dismissed in summer 2024. He then joined Strasbourg in August, leading them to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1. This league term, his Alsatian side has won four of their opening five matches, currently sitting seventh going into the New Year. They also lead their 36-team Conference League table, remaining unbeaten in six games, including a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in November. While ESPN sources suggest Rosenior is a potential candidate, reports from across the English Channel indicate otherwise.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is another name in consideration, with his contract in South London set to expire at the end of the current season. Glasner's career includes successful stints in Austria and Germany, notably guiding Eintracht Frankfurt to the 2021-22 Europa League title. In his first full season at Selhurst Park, he led the Eagles to their first major trophy by defeating Manchester City in the 2024-25 FA Cup at Wembley, subsequently winning the Community Shield. Despite Palace's mixed first half of the current season, placing them 11th in the Premier League, ESPN sources indicate that Glasner is not currently under consideration for the Chelsea job.

Roberto de Zerbi, who took the managerial role at Marseille in 2024 after leaving Brighton and Hove Albion, has also been discussed. He inherited a team that finished eighth in Ligue 1 with four managers in the preceding season. In his inaugural season, De Zerbi's attacking style earned him plaudits as Marseille finished as runners-up in the French top flight. They currently sit third in the league this season. However, ESPN sources confirm that De Zerbi is not a target for Chelsea and is not in the running for the vacancy at Stamford Bridge.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna had previously been linked with Chelsea in 2024, amidst interest from other top clubs. However, he committed his future to Ipswich by renewing his deal with a four-year extension. The Northern Irishman achieved consecutive promotions from League One to the Premier League in his first senior managerial role, ending Ipswich's 22-year absence from the top flight. Although Ipswich were relegated last season, they currently occupy third place in the Championship, with automatic promotion remaining a strong possibility.

Former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who played at Stamford Bridge from 2014 to 2019 and won two Premier League trophies, one FA Cup, one League Cup, and one Europa League, has also been mentioned. As interim manager, Fabregas guided Como to Serie A promotion in 2024, securing him the permanent job. Como is currently in a strong sixth position heading into 2025. Nonetheless, ESPN sources have stated that Fabregas is not in contention for a return to Chelsea in a managerial capacity. This report utilized information provided by James Olley and Julien Laurens.