Chelsea FC have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after less than four months in charge following a disastrous run of form which saw the club lose five consecutive Premier League games without scoring for the first time since 1912.
Rosenior, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in January after replacing Enzo Maresco, he signed a long-term contract but failed to keep the side. He has won 11 of his 23 games in all competitions, with Chelsea suffering seven defeats in their last eight games as their season unravelled.
The final blow came in a 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, after which Rosenior admitted the performance was “indefensible” and “unacceptable” amid angry chants from the traveling fans.
Chelsea have now dropped to seventh in the table, leaving their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League in serious doubt. Their inability to score during a five-game losing streak highlighted the extent of their offensive struggles.
The club said in a statement: “Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment mid-season. This decision was not taken lightly by the club. However, recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards and there is much more to come this season.”
Assistant coach Calum McFarlane has been put in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season. He will lead the team into the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley.
McFarlane, who previously took over after Maresco’s departure, oversaw a draw against Manchester City and a defeat at Fulham FC during his short spell. He now faces the task of reviving a side low in confidence at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Rosenior’s tenure also included a Carabao Cup semi-final exit to Arsenal FC and a heavy 8-2 aggregate defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Round of 16.
Chelsea have begun their search for a permanent replacement, with Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Edin Terzic among the names being considered.
At the moment, the focus shifts to McFarlane as Chelsea look to save their season, starting with the FA Cup semi-final decider at Wembley.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
22 Apr 2026 22:32 IST
