After Maresca, Chelsea Looks for Another Victim

LONDON, FRIDAY - The dismissal of coach Enzo Maresca by Chelsea comes as a surprise. However, it is not entirely unexpected when reflecting on the trends during Todd Boehly's ownership. Following Maresca, if there are no changes, the next Chelsea coach will likely become a casualty among the club's executives.

Maresca has just been awarded the title of the best coach in the English Premier League for the November 2025 edition, earlier in December. Less than a month later, on Thursday (1/1/2026), he was officially dismissed by Chelsea. The main apparent reason is the club's poor trend. The coach was only able to secure one victory from the last seven matches in the league.

Chelsea's status has drastically changed, from title contender to trailing 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal. "Honestly, I am truly shocked, I did not expect this to happen. In my opinion, there is clearly tension between the coach and the owner regarding this decision," said former Chelsea captain John Terry through his official TikTok account.

The poor trend has indeed cornered the Italian coach, but it seems unreasonable to dismiss him solely for that reason. Maresca is Chelsea's best coach in the Boehly era since 2022. He has recorded the highest win rate of 61.8 percent and has delivered the Club World Cup and the Europa Conference League trophy in his first season.

As Terry mentioned, there are other factors behind the decision. The real reason came to light after Chelsea's victory over Everton in mid-December. Maresca testified that he had just gone through the "worst 48 hours" at the club. Many people did not support him. He was reluctant to elaborate further on that statement.

According to BBC Sport, Maresca frequently disagreed with the club's medical department regarding player fitness and availability. He felt the club deliberately directed players to be selected based on their grades, rather than quality and performance trends. The club's top brass were disappointed by the manager's decisions, which put players at risk.

Maresca's suspicions are justified. During the Boehly era, Chelsea has consistently splurged on acquiring young stars with significant potential. It seems they are purchasing players solely for investment purposes, rather than out of necessity for the coach. Just look at Maresca's first season last year, when Chelsea had to loan out 20 players due to an excess of players in the squad.

On the other hand, Maresca is reluctant to get caught up in the interests of the higher-ups. He is no longer a coach who is not taken seriously, as he was last season. His value has risen significantly, even entering the radar as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for the upcoming season. Maresca has chosen to leave rather than be ruined alongside "The Blues."

Maresca is the sixth coach in the Boehly era. Thomas Tuchel began the new ownership era of Chelsea and lasted only four months. Graham Potter was appointed, then dismissed after seven months. Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard briefly served as interim coaches. Mauricio Pochettino, prior to Maresca, lasted only one season.

I don't think it's the coach who invests the money, but the owner. I think they're the most important people in the club.

Maresca has become the longest-serving coach in the era following the previous owner, Roman Abramovich, with a tenure of 550 days. This fact illustrates that time is the most valuable asset for Chelsea's coaches. "The Blues" have been coached by six different figures in just the last three and a half years. No team in the league has had more coaches than they have.

The change of coaches has indeed been part of Chelsea's "DNA." During the Abramovich era, there were 16 coaches in just 19 years (2003-2022). The difference is that coaching changes in the previous era almost always ended in success. In contrast, during the Boehly era, the club seems to move backward with each coach's dismissal.

Abramovich has always prioritized victory and trophies above all else. His ambition is evident in bringing in experienced championship coaches, ranging from Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, to Antonio Conte. The owner then fully supported these coaches in the transfer market.

The trend of selecting coaches in the Boehly era is somewhat unique. They tend to prioritize young coaches with minimal championship experience. Just look at the names that have been brought in previously, such as Potter, Pochettino, and Maresca. They have yet to prove their ability to deliver trophies for the clubs they have managed.

Upon closer examination, a coach with minimal ego is indeed the most suitable for Chelsea. This is because, in reality, there are already too many figures involved in the club's decision-making process at present. They have two vocal owners, Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, as well as two sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

The role of the coach is limited to decisions on the field. Maresca has often complained about his limitations in various aspects, including player selection in the transfer market. "In my opinion, it is not the coach who invests the money, but the owner. I believe they are the most important people in the club," Maresca remarked last December.

It is reasonable that the name emerging as a candidate to succeed Maresca is the 41-year-old coach from the French club Strasbourg, Liam Rosenior. Rosenior's experience as a head coach in England was limited to leading the second division team Hull City (2022-24). He was dismissed from Hull before moving to Strasbourg.

Rosenior's experience seems to be less aligned with Chelsea's credibility. Nevertheless, this low-ego figure appears to be exactly what Boehly and his colleagues need. Do not be surprised if the young coach becomes the next sacrificial lamb. His story is likely to end similarly to those of previous coaches. (AP/REUTERS)