Chelsea Football Club announced today that it has ended its association with head coach Liam Rosenior, just 107 days after his appointment. The decision comes after a string of poor results that left the Blues languishing in seventh place in the Premier League and with their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League looking bleak. In the immediate aftermath, Calum McFarlane has been confirmed as the interim head coach.
McFarlane, who previously stepped in for two games earlier in the season when Enzo Maresca departed, will now guide the team through the upcoming FA Cup semi‑final against Leeds United at Wembley and remain in charge for the remainder of the campaign. During his earlier caretaker stint he oversaw a 1‑1 draw with Manchester City and a 2‑1 defeat at Fulham, the latter match seeing Marc Cucurella receive a red card in the first half.
Chelsea have not yet entered talks with any permanent candidates and no shortlist has been compiled. A club statement said the organization will "undertake a process of self‑reflection to make the right long‑term appointment" and emphasized that the decision to part ways with Rosenior was not taken lightly.
Rosenior had been installed as a surprise replacement for Maresca in January, signing a six‑year contract after moving from Strasbourg – a club owned by Chelsea's parent company, BlueCo. However, seven defeats in his last eight fixtures, including a 3‑0 loss at Brighton that sparked chants for his dismissal, forced the club to act swiftly. The Brighton defeat marked the Blues' fifth consecutive Premier League loss, a run in which they failed to score a single goal – the worst goalless losing streak since 1912.
Under Rosenior, Chelsea's league form deteriorated sharply. When he took over, the team were eighth, having slipped from fifth after Maresca's exit.
By the time of his departure they were seven points adrift of fifth‑placed Liverpool, who also held a game in hand. In cup competitions, Rosenior oversaw a Carabao Cup semi‑final exit at the hands of Arsenal and an 8‑2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League last‑16. On the brighter side, the manager did guide the side to FA Cup victories over Charlton Athletic, Hull City and a penalty shoot‑out win against Wrexham, before a 7‑0 demolition of League One side Port Vale secured a place in the semi‑final. The official club statement read: "Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with head coach Liam Rosenior.
On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the club. Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment mid‑way through the season.
This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly; however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future. Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as interim head coach until the end of the season with support from existing club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.
As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self‑reflection to make the right long‑term appointment." Sky Sports News reported that the club does not expect to pay Rosenior a large compensation fee, noting that a break clause was built into his contract. This clause is expected to allow a mutually agreeable settlement rather than a full payout for the remainder of his contract, which originally ran until 2032.
McFarlane, aged 41, was previously involved with Chelsea's youth setup before being thrust into the senior role. He retained a place on the first‑team coaching staff after Rosenior's appointment and now returns to the helm with the club hoping to stabilise results and secure a European place. Rosenior, in his post‑match interview after the Brighton defeat, admitted the performance was "unacceptable" and "indefensible", insisting that both he and the players needed to reflect on the shortcomings.
Commentators such as Sky Sports' Paul Merson highlighted that a manager is typically dismissed when either the fans turn against him or the squad loses faith. Merson argued that Rosenior faced both pressures and praised his honesty in taking responsibility, while also questioning whether the club would honour the remainder of his contract. Potential replacements mentioned by Sky Sports' chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol include Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva (should he leave Fulham), and former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas.
The club has previously explored options such as Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi and Hansi Flick, though it remains to be seen which candidate will fit the current ownership structure and long‑term vision. Statistically, Chelsea's lack of intensity was evident in the Brighton match, where the team took 32 minutes to make their first tackle and, by half‑time, ten of the eleven starters had not recorded a single tackle. Throughout the season, the Blues have been out‑run in every Premier League encounter, and their attacking output has been alarming.
They endured four consecutive league games without scoring and failed to register a shot on target in the fifth, a rarity for a club of Chelsea's stature. Their first‑half expected goals (xG) of 0.04 against Brighton was the lowest of any half under Maresca's tenure, underscoring the depth of the problem. As the club prepares for the FA Cup semi‑final, the focus now shifts to stabilising the squad, restoring confidence, and laying the groundwork for a more permanent managerial solution that can return Chelsea to the top tier of English and European football.