Chelsea Football Club have officially ended their partnership with head coach Liam Rosenior, terminating his tenure just 107 days after he was appointed. The decision comes after a string of poor results, including seven defeats in the last eight league matches and a run of five consecutive goalless losses – the club's worst such spell since 1912.
Rosenior, who arrived from Strasbourg on a six‑year deal when the French side was owned by Chelsea's parent company BlueCo, will leave the club with Chelsea sitting seventh in the Premier League, seven points adrift of fifth‑placed Liverpool, who still have a game in hand. In the immediate aftermath, Calum McFarlane has been confirmed as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. McFarlane, 41, previously stepped in as caretaker when Enzo Maresca departed in January, guiding the team to a 1‑1 draw against Manchester City and a narrow 2‑1 loss at Fulham. He will now lead the Blues into Sunday’s FA Cup semi‑final against Leeds United at Wembley, while the club continues its search for a permanent manager.
The club’s statement expressed gratitude to Rosenior and his staff for their efforts, noting that his conduct had always been professional and that the decision was not taken lightly. It also emphasized that Chelsea will undertake a period of self‑reflection before making a long‑term appointment, aiming to restore stability and improve performance as they chase European qualification and FA Cup success. Rosenior’s short spell was marked by a mixture of cup victories and league disappointments.
In the FA Cup, his side defeated Championship opponents Charlton Athletic, Hull City and Wrexham (the latter on penalties) before thrashing League One’s bottom club Port Vale 7‑0 to reach the semi‑final. Conversely, his tenure saw Carabao Cup semi‑final defeats to Arsenal and an 8‑2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League round of 16. The league form, however, deteriorated sharply, culminating in a 3‑0 defeat at Brighton that sparked chants from fans demanding his dismissal.
During the post‑match press conference at Brighton, Rosenior apologised to travelling supporters but harshly criticised his players, describing their display as "indefensible," "unacceptable" and "unprofessional." He admitted that the team needed a drastic change and that he would be looking in the mirror to understand what went wrong. His comments were echoed by former players and pundits, who highlighted the lack of fight and the poor defensive statistics – Chelsea took 32 minutes to make their first tackle and, by halftime, ten of the eleven starters had not recorded a single tackle. Sky Sports analysts noted that Rosenior’s contract included a break clause, meaning Chelsea will not be required to pay out the full remainder of his six‑year deal, which ran until 2032.
The settlement is expected to be mutually agreeable, reflecting the typical structure of modern managerial contracts. Looking ahead, the club has not yet approached any candidates for the permanent role, and no shortlist has been compiled. Nevertheless, several names have been linked to the vacancy, including Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva (should he leave Fulham), and former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas.
In the past, Chelsea have also engaged in talks with Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi and Hansi Flick, though it remains uncertain whether top‑level managers will be attracted to the current ownership structure. The broader context of Chelsea’s season has been one of regression rather than progression. After winning two trophies last season, the Blues have struggled to maintain momentum, slipping from fifth place under Maresca to eighth by the time Rosenior took over, and now finding themselves outside the Champions League spots.
Their offensive woes have been stark: after four league games without scoring, they failed to register a single shot on target in the fifth, with a first‑half expected goals (xG) total of just 0.04 – lower than any half recorded by Maresca in his 114 Premier League appearances as manager. In summary, Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Liam Rosenior reflects a response to a deteriorating run of form, a lack of goals, and mounting pressure from supporters.
Calum McFarlane will steer the team through the FA Cup semi‑final and the final stretch of the league campaign, while the club’s hierarchy embarks on a careful search for a long‑term manager capable of restoring the Blues to the upper echelons of English football.