Following Enzo Maresca’s public comments that targeted his employers, speculation about his imminent sacking has intensified, prompting English media houses to name potential candidates to take over at Chelsea. The Italian’s hopes of guiding the Blues to their first Premier League title in a decade appear to have faded after he delivered an extraordinary post-match press conference at the weekend.
After the South Coast club beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday, Maresca unleashed a remarkable rant, stating that the 48 hours leading up to the game had been the worst “since I joined the club because many people didn’t support me and the team.” Although the Italian explicitly denied he was speaking about the fans, he could not clarify who exactly he felt was being unsupportive, leading many to believe the outburst was directly aimed at Chelsea’s board and ownership.
Despite the controversy, the former Leicester City boss stated ahead of Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff City that he remains ‘absolutely committed’ to his job at Stamford Bridge. However, Chelsea’s history shows that managers rarely enjoy long tenures, especially when they begin fighting their employers.
The Metro listed several managers the BlueCo ownership could be targeting as a possible replacement for Maresca:
Liam Rosenior (Strasbourg Boss): Rosenior emerges as the top candidate due to his existing connection with the ownership structure. Strasbourg is also owned by Todd Boehly’s BlueCo consortium, and the French side has several Chelsea players on loan. Rosenior, 41, is also familiar with the Premier League having previously managed Hull City.
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace Manager): Glasner is noted for his recent success, having led Crystal Palace to their first-ever major trophy, the FA Cup, by beating Manchester City, and guiding them to a fifth-place Premier League finish last season.
Frank Lampard (Coventry City Manager): The two-time manager at Stamford Bridge is mentioned, as he appears to have successfully turned his career around at Coventry City, where he is achieving strong results in the Championship.
Andoni Iraola (AFC Bournemouth Boss): The Bournemouth manager is also included in the potential list, having impressed the league with his attacking style and recent results.
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