Chelsea officially announced on Wednesday (22) the dismissal of head coach Liam Rosenior.
The decision comes amid a turbulent period for the London side this season, marked by inconsistent performances and results that fell short of the expectations of both the board and the fans.
Chelsea’s defeat to Brighton on Tuesday (21) shook the atmosphere behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge.
It was the fifth straight game ending in defeat without scoring a goal — something that had not happened since 1912.
Hired midway through the current season in an attempt to steady the team, Rosenior was unable to deliver the desired consistency and is leaving Chelsea despite having a contract until 2032.
Rosenior arrived at Stamford Bridge in early January, following the departure of Enzo Maresca, but won only 11 of his 23 matches during that span.
The coach’s departure could result in significant compensation of nearly €28 million, as speculated by the English newspaper Daily Mirror.
Rosenior earns €4.6 million per season. Since his contract runs until 2032, Chelsea would have to pay a considerable amount if they had not protected themselves by including termination clauses in the deal.
Chelsea’s defeat to Brighton in midweek leaves them in seventh place in the Premier League, seven points off a Champions League spot, with four matches remaining.
According to the statement released by the club, the change in the dugout was not a decision taken lightly, but it became inevitable due to the drop in performance at a crucial stage, with the team still fighting for major objectives.
For the final stretch of the competitions, the board confirmed that Calum McFarlane will take over as interim head coach until the end of the season.
He will have the support of the club’s current permanent coaching staff.
McFarlane’s immediate task will be to try to restore confidence within the squad in order to secure a place in European competition and continue progressing in the FA Cup.
Behind the scenes, the focus now shifts to the search for a solid project.
The board highlighted that it will go through a period of “self-reflection” to ensure that the next coach chosen is the right name for a long-term plan, with the aim of bringing much-needed stability to the Stamford Bridge dugout.
Read Chelsea’s official statement
Chelsea Football Club 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 at the club.
Liam has always conducted himself with the utmost integrity and professionalism since his appointment in the middle of the season.
This was not a decision the club took lightly; however, recent results and performances have fallen below the required standards, and there is still much 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, supported by the club’s current coaching staff, as we fight to secure European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.
While the club works to bring stability to the position of head coach, we will begin a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
