Background on Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca, a 45-year-old Italian coach, joined Chelsea in 2024 following his successful stint with Leicester City, which led them to the Premier League.
Achievements with Chelsea
- Secured a fourth-place finish, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League
- Won the UEFA Conference League
- Captured the FIFA Club World Cup title in his first season with a young yet expensive squad
Decline in Performance and Tensions with Directives
Despite these early successes, Maresca and Chelsea parted ways on the first day of 2026 due to a poor run of form and strained relationships with the club’s directors.
Poor Run of Form
In the latter part of the season, Chelsea managed only one win in their last seven league matches, falling out of contention for the Premier League title.
Tensions with Directives
The tension escalated when Maresca expressed his frustration over internal issues, stating he felt unsupported by the club. He described the period following a 2-0 victory over Everton as “the worst 48 hours” of his tenure.
Key Actions and Decisions
- Chelsea dropped from third place to fifth, trailing the leading Arsenal by 15 points.
- Despite advancing to the League Cup semifinals, Chelsea managed only two points from their last three Premier League matches.
- Maresca denied rumors linking him to Manchester City, affirming his commitment to Chelsea until 2029.
- His final match, a home game against Bournemouth resulting in a 2-2 draw, was marked by fan dissatisfaction and boos.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Enzo Maresca? Enzo Maresca is a 45-year-old Italian coach who joined Chelsea in 2024 after leading Leicester City to the Premier League.
- What were Maresca’s achievements with Chelsea? He secured a fourth-place finish, won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup in his first season.
- Why did Maresca leave Chelsea? He departed due to a poor run of form and strained relationships with the club’s directors, exacerbated by Maresca’s expression of frustration over internal issues.
- What was the situation with Chelsea’s performance under Maresca? Chelsea fell from third place to fifth, 15 points behind the leading Arsenal, and managed only two points from their last three Premier League matches.
