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Perhaps not entirely surprising, but nonetheless sudden, Chelsea confirmed the dismissal of manager Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, sparking further uncertainty over the struggling Blues' future and what lies ahead for Rosenior himself.
The final blow for Rosenior came in the form of Chelsea's embarrassing 3–0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday evening, which represented their fifth straight league match without finding the net — a dismal run the club hasn't endured since 1912.
Rosenior had only been appointed at the beginning of January, stepping in after Enzo Maresca's unexpected departure. He lasted a mere 106 days of the 2001-day contract he had signed.
In the weeks leading up to his sacking, there were reports that Rosenior had lost the confidence of his squad, something he openly acknowledged on Tuesday before his dismissal: "It looks that way, I won't lie."
So, what comes next for both Chelsea and Rosenior?
Chelsea Could Miss Out Entirely on European Competition
Chelsea currently sit eighth in the Premier League on 48 points, having been overtaken by Bournemouth in seventh on Wednesday night, with interim boss Calum McFarlane stepping in to manage the side for the rest of the season. They trail Liverpool by seven points, with the Reds occupying the fifth and final Champions League qualification spot. With only four games left to play, any realistic hope of breaking into the top five seems like a distant dream.
Their only realistic route to European qualification would be to finish sixth while Aston Villa claim fifth and go on to win the Europa League, thereby freeing up an additional Champions League berth; or, they would need Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool to all falter in their remaining fixtures while Chelsea win every game.
Failing to qualify would mark the third time in four seasons that Chelsea have been absent from the Champions League, further underlining the club's troubled period. It would also see them surpass their own record from the 2022–23 season as the most valuable club to miss out on Champions League football, according to transfermarkt. At that time, they were valued at €1 billion ($1.4 billion), compared to their current valuation of €1.2 billion ($1.6 billion).
Beyond the Champions League, the Blues would be fortunate to feature in any European competition at all next season, having slipped below even the Europa Conference League places. A complete absence from Europe is something they have experienced only twice since establishing themselves as a top club in the late '90s: during the 2016–17 season and the 2023–24 season, following poor 10th and 12th place finishes respectively.
On a more positive note, Chelsea went on to claim the Premier League title in the 2016–17 campaign without the distraction of European football. Perhaps a complete reset of that nature is precisely what this squad requires.
Huge Payout for Rosenior?
Rosenior, 41, signed a six-and-a-half-year deal — running through to June 2032 — just a few months ago, meaning he could be entitled to a substantial compensation package covering the remaining years of his contract. This adds yet another financial burden to Chelsea's already considerable outlay of £287.85 million ($388.64 million) spent on no fewer than 15 players and staff poached from Brighton, compounded by the significant revenue losses that come with missing out on Champions League football, including UEFA prize money and matchday income.
The club previously paid around £13 million ($17.6 million) to manager Graham Potter and £15 million ($20.3 million) to manager Thomas Tuchel when they were let go, but Rosenior's settlement could exceed both. Reports indicate his payout may reach upwards of £24 million ($32.4 million), based on an annual salary of £4 million ($5.4 million).
However, Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday that Chelsea had inserted a break clause into Rosenior's contract, which would prevent the club from being liable for his full salary over the next six years. This would likely bring the settlement figure closer to what Potter and Tuchel received, though no confirmed amount has been disclosed.
It remains unclear who will be appointed as Rosenior's permanent successor at Chelsea; however, a number of credible candidates — among them Xabi Alonso and Filipe Luís — have been linked with the position.