just months after leading Chelsea to a Club World Cup title and being considered for “person of the year” honors, manager Enzo Maresca has unexpectedly departed the club [[1]]. While officially described as a mutual decision, sources indicate underlying disagreements prompted the Italian coach’s resignation [[2]], throwing the club’s preparations for Sunday’s match against Manchester City into disarray [[3]]. Assistant coach, Carlo Caballero, is expected to lead the team in the interim as Chelsea initiates a search for a permanent replacement.
From Club World Cup glory to a sudden departure: the Italian coach has left with immediate effect, amid reports of disagreements with the club.
Concerns arose after seeing his assistant, Caballero, looking visibly unsettled following the match against Bournemouth. The official explanation was that he wasn’t feeling well, but those close to the Chelsea organization suspected something else was happening with Enzo Maresca. Those suspicions have now been confirmed. The manager, who was a strong contender for person of the year in 2025 after leading the team to a Conference League title and the Club World Cup, has informed the club that the Bournemouth match was his last, ending his tenure immediately.
What happened
Chelsea’s official statement describes the split as mutual consent, but the situation appears far more complex. The unexpected departure – despite the team showing positive growth despite inconsistent results, and navigating a large squad – reportedly stems from disagreements that surfaced in recent weeks. Maresca apparently found these issues unacceptable, leading him to terminate a contract that was set to run through 2029. As a result, he will not be on the touchline for Sunday’s match against Manchester City, with Caballero expected to take charge in the interim.
The club has already begun the search for a permanent replacement, with an announcement likely early next week. Maresca may then provide further details regarding his decision to resign. Currently, the coach prefers to remain silent, finalize the necessary paperwork, and take some time away from the game. He could potentially return to management at the start of next season, with a possible move back to Italy.
January 1, 2026 (modified January 1, 2026 | 13:29)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
