Chelsea have confirmed that Enzo Maresca has left his role as head coach, following reports that his position at the club had become untenable.

Speculation had intensified in recent days that Maresca’s relationship with the club had completely broken down, prompting Chelsea to begin the search for their seventh manager since 2022.

In a statement, Chelsea paid tribute to Maresca’s achievements during his time at Stamford Bridge.
“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,” the statement read.

“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.”

Chelsea’s decision follows a downturn in form, with the Blues managing just one win in their last seven Premier League matches. They also suffered three defeats across eight games in all competitions during December.

Tensions reportedly escalated after comments Maresca made following a mid-month victory over Everton, when he described experiencing the “worst 48 hours” of his time at the club — remarks understood to have displeased the board.

Chelsea’s most recent outing ended in a 2–2 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday. Maresca did not speak to the media after the match, with assistant coach Willy Caballero citing illness. However, sources suggested the Italian coach may have deliberately avoided the press conference as he considered his future.

Frustration among supporters was evident during the match when Maresca substituted star player Cole Palmer shortly after the hour mark, prompting chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” from the stands.

The 45-year-old, who joined Chelsea at the start of last season, guided the club to UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs, as well as a top-four league finish last year. Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

The Blues face Manchester City on Sunday in a high-profile fixture, the first of nine matches they will play during a busy January schedule.