Enzo Maresca has left his position as head coach of Chelsea after 18 months in charge, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.
“Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company,” the club said in a statement.
Maresca’s departure comes with Chelsea sitting fifth in the Premier League table, 15 points behind leaders and London rivals Arsenal, and having recorded just one win in their last seven league matches.
Speculation over the Italian coach’s future had intensified in recent weeks following a poor run of results and reports of a strained relationship between Maresca and the club’s hierarchy.
“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,” the statement added.
Maresca was absent from the post-match press conference after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday, with the club citing illness as the reason. He had previously spoken of a lack of support within the club, saying on December 13 that many people at Chelsea were not backing him or the team.
The former Leicester City manager also described the period leading up to a 2-0 win over Everton as “the worst 48 hours” of his time at the club.
Maresca’s contract was due to run until the summer of 2029, with an option for a further year. During his tenure, Chelsea won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025, while also securing a return to the UEFA Champions League.
