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For the second time this season, Calum McFarlane has stepped back into the dugout on a temporary basis at Chelsea to guide the club through the remainder of a chaotic 2025–26 campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Less than a day after Chelsea's humiliating 3–0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, the club parted ways with Liam Rosenior just 106 days into his six-and-a-half year deal with the west London club. The defeat marked the Blues' fifth consecutive Premier League loss and seventh in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Rosenior, who was named Enzo Maresca's replacement in January, becomes the fifth permanent manager to be dismissed during BlueCo's four-year ownership. As Chelsea search the market for their next long-term appointment, they confirmed McFarlane will occupy the role on a caretaker basis until the season concludes.
His CV may not be the most eye-catching, but McFarlane does at least bring some prior experience managing Chelsea's senior side.
Who Is Calum McFarlane, Chelsea's New Manager?
Prior to joining Chelsea, McFarlane built his reputation within Manchester City's academy setup. He worked his way up to become assistant manager of the Citizens' U-18 team in 2021, a role he held until moving to Southampton in 2023.
During his two seasons with the Saints, McFarlane took charge of the club's U-18 side and later the U-21s before making the switch to Chelsea's academy, where he went on to manage the U-21s during the 2025–26 season.
The 40-year-old's time in Chelsea's youth setup was brief, as he was unexpectedly called upon to serve as interim manager of the first team following Maresca's abrupt exit. McFarlane took charge for two senior matches at the turn of the year before Rosenior assumed control.
Rather than returning to the U-21 setup, the Englishman remained with the first team as one of Rosenior's assistants. Now, McFarlane finds himself once again stepping in to steady the ship following another managerial departure at Chelsea.
McFarlane's Record With Chelsea
There is only a limited body of work to assess McFarlane's previous spell in charge of Chelsea, and the results don't make for particularly inspiring reading at first glance. He oversaw a 1–1 draw with Man City on January 4 and a 2–1 defeat to Fulham on January 7.
That said, the draw against the title contenders was a notable achievement, highlighted by Enzo Fernández's late strike to earn a point at the Etihad. By contrast, when the two sides met again in April, Chelsea were beaten 3–0 at home.
Against Fulham, McFarlane's team faced an uphill battle after Marc Cucurella was dismissed just 22 minutes in. The Blues fell behind 1–0 but showed resilience, pulling level through Liam Delap's equalizer in the 72nd minute.
However, the ten-man visitors were unable to hold on for a draw and ultimately left Craven Cottage with nothing to show for their determined display.
Four months on, McFarlane has the chance to add to his managerial record at Chelsea as he looks to arrest the club's poor run of form. He will be in the dugout for the FA Cup semifinal against Leeds United on Sunday before shifting focus to the Premier League, where seventh-placed Chelsea are battling to secure European football next season.