Chelsea's Managerial Mystery: Who Takes Charge Against Manchester City in Blockbuster Showdown?
Chelsea's leadership made an early move on their 2026 objectives.
The faint echoes of New Year's celebrations were still audible when the club announced their separation from head coach Enzo Maresca. Although he secured two titles in 2025 and guided the Blues back to Champions League qualification, Chelsea decided to "refocus the campaign" by ending his 18-month spell abruptly.
While this bold decision shows initiative, the timing creates complications during the congested holiday fixture list. It seemed appropriate that Chelsea's social media announcement of Maresca's exit followed closely after revealing the nine matches scheduled for January alone.
This relentless fixture run kicks off with Sunday's crucial visit to title contenders Manchester City. Given Maresca's connections to the Etihad club—who have allegedly been considering him as Pep Guardiola's potential replacement—there's an intriguing subplot to what was already a high-profile encounter.
With Maresca now potentially heading to the opposite dugout in Manchester this weekend, who will take charge of Chelsea?
Chelsea Caretaker Manager Options
Chelsea's brief statement regarding Maresca's exit described it as a joint agreement. "Enzo and the club agree that a change provides the squad with the optimal opportunity to redirect the season," it stated. Nevertheless, the 99-word announcement made no mention of succession plans.
The status of Maresca's coaching team remains unclear. The former Leicester City manager brought six coaches when he joined in 2024. Former Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero is the most notable member of this group and has stepped in for Maresca during his touchline bans. Just recently, Caballero spoke to reporters in his manager's absence after Maresca reported illness.
Should Chelsea's leadership prefer a complete overhaul, they might temporarily promote U21 manager Calum McFarlane. The 40-year-old joined only in July following two seasons with Southampton's development squads. Coincidentally, McFarlane also served at Manchester City's academy, where he worked alongside Maresca who managed the U23s for one campaign in 2020–21.
When Will Chelsea Name Enzo Maresca's Permanent Replacement?
The search for a permanent replacement is already in motion. Fabrizio Romano indicated that club officials are optimistic about finalizing Maresca's replacement within days. Strasbourg's Liam Rosenior was highlighted in that update and has been extensively linked as the frontrunner due to the French club's relationship as Chelsea's sister organization.
Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola—whose deal expires this summer—has also emerged as a possibility along with names like Xavi Hernández and Cesc Fàbregas. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner was initially considered part of this candidate pool, but The Athletic reports that the Austrian tactician is "not under consideration."
Regardless, it appears highly improbable that any permanent hire will be confirmed before Sunday's encounter at Manchester City.