Enzo Maresca to leave Chelsea

Chelsea travel north to face Premier League title contenders Manchester City on Sunday, but it appears that head coach Enzo Maresca may not be in charge for the game. 

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Italian is set to part ways with the west London club after talks on Thursday.

He claims that tension has been rising over the past couple of days, with talks held on New Year’s Day to discuss the immediate future.

Maresca is set to depart Chelsea immediately, with the Blues now starting their search for a new head coach.

The 45-year-old took charge of Chelsea in the summer of 2024, having guided Leicester City to the Championship title the previous season.

Maresca guided Chelsea to glory in the Club World Cup last summer (Photo: Action Plus Sports Images/Alamy)

His first campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge ended in his side lifting the Europa Conference League, and he then oversaw a triumph in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States last summer.

This season started inconsistently, though, however the Blues did navigate November unbeaten despite facing Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and Arsenal.

Maresca’s side have won just one of their last seven Premier League matches, however, and have dropped down to fifth in the top flight standings.

The Italian had been contracted to Chelsea until the end of the 2028/29 campaign and, although an end of season review was scheduled to take place, Romano claims that the former Leicester boss will now depart Stamford Bridge prior to the Blues’ game against Man City.

Maresca formerly managed City’s development side, and also worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant prior to taking charge of the Foxes.