After weeks of hide-and-seek, the Enzo Maresca episode is finally over at Chelsea. After a fairly successful stint at the Stamford Bridge club, Maresca has resigned from his position as manager on Thursday (January 1). In what is an anti-climax to start the New Year, reports confirm that the decision was made after mutual consent, with Chelsea having made up their minds on looking past Maresca.
While Maresca led Chelsea to two titles in 2025 - Conference League and Club World Cup - it was clear that his relationship with the club management had deteriorated significantly over the last six months. Chelsea are currently at fifth spot in the Premier League with 30 points, level with Manchester United but are above the Old Trafford club due to superior goal difference.
December, though, was a very mixed month for the Blues as they suffered a lot of draws and also lost some tricky encounters, which meant that the sack on Maresca wasn't too far away. However, the Italian had done enough to warrant a respectful exit from the club and that is exactly what has transpired, although Chelsea's decision still looks debatable at this time of the season.
Generally, a manager leaving midway through a season doesn't paint a good picture of the particular club. Chelsea, though, boast of a rich tradition and more importantly, are still well-placed to have a strong finish to their 2025-26 season. There are a few contenders who are in line to replace Maresca at Stamford Bridge. Former Spanish and Barcelona star Xavi is tipped to be the frontrunner in this race, given that he is currently without a job and can join immediately.
The other major candidate is an underdog in Liam Rosenior who manages Strasbourg in Ligue 1, another club owned by the same management that owns Chelsea. Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner is another hot pick, considering the work he has done with the club that has seen a lot of their top players leave in the last 12 months. Aston Villa's Unai Emery is also in the race but both he and Glasner might not be immediately available due to obvious contractual obligations.
An outside contender is former Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas who has made a name for himself in the coaching market with his exploits at Como in Italy's Serie A. The Chelsea management will have to make up their minds quickly because the club has the potential to go deep into all major competitions this season.
