The inside story of Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea departure

In an official statement, Chelsea said: “Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company. 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.

“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. We wish Enzo well for the future.”

The exact reasons behind Maresca’s departure have not been officially disclosed, but events over the past two weeks appear to have been decisive. On 13 December 2025, after a 2-0 victory over Everton, Maresca hinted that he had just endured “the worst 48 hours” of his time at the club.

According to The Mirror, Maresca wanted full authority over team selection, but his decisions were reportedly overruled by the medical staff. This was followed by a poor run of form, with Chelsea winning just one of their last seven Premier League matches, dropping to fifth place and falling 15 points behind the league leaders. Last week, further reports suggested that Maresca had informed Chelsea of interest from Manchester City, where he was allegedly being considered as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola.

The final breaking point reportedly came on 30 December, when Maresca did not attend the post-match press conference after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Assistant coach Willy Caballero explained at the time that Maresca was suffering from a virus, although that explanation is now being questioned.

The departure is expected to have a significant impact on Chelsea. Maresca may have to wait until at least the end of the season before any potential move to Manchester City, with Guardiola under contract until 2029. Chelsea’s players, meanwhile, will need to adapt quickly to a new coach while continuing to compete for Champions League qualification and secure their places for the 2026 World Cup.

For now, assistant coach Willy Caballero has been appointed as interim head coach. Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures include away matches against Manchester City on 5 January, Fulham on 8 January and Charlton in the FA Cup on 11 January. Failure to secure positive results in at least two of those games could leave the club’s season in serious difficulty.