Liam Rosenior has moved into pole position to become Chelsea’s next head coach after the club decided to end Enzo Maresca’s spell in charge, ESPN sources have revealed.
Chelsea officially announced Maresca’s departure on Thursday, with insiders pointing to a breakdown in his relationship with key decision-makers at the club as a major factor behind the exit.
Strasbourg head coach, Rosenior is currently viewed as the standout option from what has been “described as a narrow shortlist.”
The 41-year-old has impressed club executives with his work in Ligue 1, and his candidacy is strengthened by Strasbourg’s ownership under BlueCo — the same consortium that acquired Chelsea in 2022.
Although the recruitment process is still ongoing, several potential candidates have already been dismissed. Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi, who held talks with Chelsea prior to Maresca’s appointment in 2024, is not under consideration.
Cesc Fabregas, now in charge at Como, and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner have also been ruled out.
Chelsea academy director, Calum McFarlane, who is due to speak to the media on Friday ahead of the Premier League showdown with Manchester City, is not in the running for the permanent position.
However, he is expected to oversee the team on an interim basis for Sunday’s trip to the Etihad Stadium while the club continues discussions over a long-term appointment.
Despite internal tensions during Maresca’s reign, Chelsea are understood to be standing by their existing operational structure.
The former head coach reportedly clashed with the medical department, “believing some players’ game time was unnecessarily restricted.”
Maresca was also said to be unhappy with the level of scrutiny surrounding his role, as he received in-depth technical feedback after matches from a support group that includes five sporting directors.
The Italian is believed to have pushed for increased control over team affairs.
Meanwhile, Porto manager, Francesco Farioli has emerged as another name under consideration as Chelsea assess their options before making a final decision on their next head coach.
