Chelsea’s Maresca’s Replacement ‘Nearly’ Confirmed!

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Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of securing a new manager, with the candidate said to be in London.

Chelsea’s search for a new head coach appears to be nearing its conclusion following the recent departure of Enzo Maresca, whose spell at Stamford Bridge came to an abrupt end after a mixed run of results and growing internal tensions.

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Maresca, who took charge in June 2024 after guiding Leicester City to promotion, was relieved of his duties despite delivering Club World Cup success in 2025. However, inconsistent Premier League form ultimately proved costly, with the Blues winning just eight of their first 19 league matches, leading the club’s hierarchy to pull the trigger on a change.

In the immediate aftermath of his exit, Under-21 head coach Calum McFarlane was placed in interim charge. McFarlane oversaw Chelsea’s most recent fixture, a 1–1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, as the club continued its assessment of long-term options.

Several names were quickly linked with the vacancy, with it being suggested that figures such as Francesco Farioli, Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola, Thomas Frank, Kieran McKenna, and Roberto De Zerbi were all considered or discussed internally. However, attention now appears to have narrowed significantly.

According to the Mirror, Liam Rosenior has emerged as the clear frontrunner to succeed Maresca, with reports suggesting that the Strasbourg head coach is already in London, a development widely seen as a major step toward finalising an agreement.

The 41-year-old is believed to have strong backing from Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, who also control Strasbourg, making negotiations smoother than with external candidates.

It is said that Chelsea’s hierarchy admire Rosenior’s tactical flexibility, calm demeanour, and track record of developing young players — qualities that align closely with the club’s long-term vision under owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

While the appointment has not yet been officially confirmed, all indications suggest that the club are moving swiftly toward an announcement.

Should Rosenior take over, he will inherit a side still very much in the mix across multiple fronts. Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League, with 31 points after 20 matches, firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

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The Blues remain alive in both domestic cup competitions, while their European campaign is also on track.

In the UEFA Champions League, Chelsea are presently 13th in the standings, a position that keeps them in contention for a seeded knockout phase play-off spot, underlining the platform already in place for the incoming manager.

Rosenior’s imminent arrival could mark the beginning of a new chapter at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea look to build momentum in the second half of the season.

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