Maresca's Million-Dollar Exit: Chelsea's Manager Walks Away Amid Turmoil
4 January 2026
What happened at Chelsea
The recent split between Italian coach Enzo Maresca and Chelsea remains a hot topic in the British press, fueling debate over whether it was an outright sacking or a voluntary departure and what the owners will do next.
The Sun reported that Maresca resigned, a move that would reportedly deprive him of a potential 14 million pounds in compensation. It suggested that after 18 months in charge, he could have secured the full remaining years’ pay but chose to leave without negotiating any financial terms, citing anger at interference from the club’s leadership.
The 45-year-old left Stamford Bridge on January 1, 2026, after a breakdown in relations with the club’s hierarchy. Despite fierce disagreements, insiders stressed that he did not pursue a financial settlement, according to reliable sources cited by The Sun.
At the time, Chelsea had just earned a place among Europe’s elite this season, following a recent World Club Cup triumph and a prior Europa Conference League title. The ongoing drama added fuel to the argument that the coaching position at Chelsea remains one of the most volatile in modern football.
Maerosca had joined on a five-year deal with an option for a further year from Leicester City in the summer of 2024, reportedly earning around £4 million per year. His departure came less than five months after Chelsea’s Club World Cup victory and the European Conference League win in the previous season.
Those close to the coach denied reports that he pressured Chelsea for a new contract amid interest from Juventus and Manchester City, insisting the split was about principle and control rather than financial incentives.
He leaves as the fourth permanent Chelsea manager to depart in under four years under owner Todd Boehly, following Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Mauricio Pochettino. The club has spent more than £1.3 billion on new signings since Boehly’s takeover in May 2022.
Liam Rozinior, the French coach of Strasbourg owned by the same group, is reportedly the leading candidate to succeed Maresca. Rozinior’s profile aligns with Chelsea’s search for a manager who can navigate the club’s ambitious, high-pressure environment.
In summary, Maresca’s exit marks another chapter in Chelsea’s ongoing managerial saga, a saga likely to include tense boardroom decisions and spotlight-grabbing headlines as the club plots its next strategic move toward stability and silverware.
Punchline 1: If football had a pension plan, Maresca just cashed out big time. Punchline 2: Chelsea’s boardroom drama has more twists than a transfer window—and that’s saying something for a club that treats spreadsheets like a trophy cabinet.
