🕒 Last Updated: 2 January 2026 – Odds and market information correct at time of last update. Please check with your bookmaker for current prices.
âš½ Result: Liam Rosenior was appointed Chelsea head coach on 6 January 2026 on a six-and-a-half-year deal, vindicating his 1/4 market position. However, Rosenior was then sacked in April 2026 after just three months in charge, following five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring. Xabi Alonso was subsequently appointed as his successor ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Chelsea Begin Search for New Manager After Maresca Exit
Chelsea are looking for a new head coach after parting ways with Enzo Maresca, with bookmakers already pointing to a clear frontrunner to take the job at Stamford Bridge. Maresca’s departure brings to an end a troubled stint in west London, with reports suggesting his relationship with the club’s hierarchy had been deteriorating for some time. The breakdown came over the summer when Chelsea refused to sanction defensive signings in the wake of a serious injury to Levi Colwill, a decision that left the Italian deeply unhappy. He publicly described his “worst 48 hours” at the club, comments widely read as a sign the working relationship had broken down.
While some supporters sympathised with his frustrations over the club’s transfer activity, results ultimately sealed his fate. Chelsea won just once in seven Premier League matches, and the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge grew toxic during the recent defeat to Bournemouth, when Maresca was met with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” from sections of the crowd after substituting Cole Palmer.
Liam Rosenior quickly emerged as the bookmakers’ favourite at 1/4 to step in. The former Hull City manager impressed at Strasbourg, steering the Ligue 1 club to a seventh-place finish in his first season and putting them in a strong position in the UEFA Conference League. His connection to the BlueCo ownership group, which controls both Strasbourg and Chelsea, made any potential move considerably smoother from a business perspective.
Xavi Hernandez was another option being discussed, particularly if Chelsea decided they wanted a more high-profile name in the dugout. The former Barcelona head coach had been without a club since leaving the Nou Camp in May 2024. Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner were also being monitored. Glasner in particular also featured in the next Tottenham manager market, with several clubs eyeing the same candidates simultaneously.
Cesc Fabregas, who enjoyed a successful playing career at Chelsea, was also expected to feature on the shortlist. The Como head coach guided the newly promoted side to a tenth-place finish in Serie A last season and had them pushing for a European spot, results that significantly raised his profile as a managerial prospect.
| Candidate | Odds |
|---|---|
| Liam Rosenior | 1/4 |
| Oliver Glasner | 8/1 |
| Filipe Luis | 10/1 |
| Cesc Fabregas | 10/1 |
| Francesco Farioli | 12/1 |
| Andoni Iraola | 14/1 |
| Roberto De Zerbi | 16/1 |
| Xavi Hernandez | 16/1 |
Chelsea faced a decision on which direction to take. Whether they opted for a familiar face from within their ownership network, a proven Premier League operator, or a marquee appointment, the pressure was on the club’s hierarchy to get it right. Manchester United and Tottenham were simultaneously searching for permanent appointments, meaning the pool of available managers was being competed for across multiple clubs.
