Chelsea FC have dismissed head coach Liam Rosenior less than four months into his tenure, appointing assistant Calum McFarlane as interim boss following a dismal run of five straight Premier League defeats without scoring, a slump not seen at the club since 1912.
Rosenior, who only took charge at Stamford Bridge in January on a five-and-a-half-year contract, managed just 11 wins from 23 matches across all competitions.
His final outing was Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, after which he described the display as “indefensible” and “unacceptable” amid vocal frustration from travelling supporters.
The poor sequence of results saw Chelsea drop to seventh in the league standings, denting their hopes of securing a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
“Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season,” the club said.
“This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season.”
According to BBC Sport, potential replacements already under consideration include Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, and Edin Terzic. Iraola recently confirmed he will leave AFC Bournemouth at the end of the season, while Silva’s deal at Fulham FC expires in July. Terzic had also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur earlier this campaign.
McFarlane steps in on an interim basis, having previously overseen a 1-1 draw with Manchester City and a defeat to Fulham earlier in the year following the exit of former manager Enzo Maresca.
“As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment,” Chelsea added.
During his brief stint, Rosenior recorded five wins in 13 league games and guided the Blues to the FA Cup semi-finals with four victories, all against lower-league sides.
McFarlane’s first assignment in charge will be a crucial FA Cup semi-final clash against Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday, with a place in the final at stake.
