Chelsea

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

We may only be two days into Calum McFarlane's second interim spell in charge of Chelsea this season, but the early front-runners to replace the sacked Liam Rosenior are already emerging.

McFarlane will remain in situ until the end of the season, while the club "undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment" to "bring stability to the head coach position".

Below, BBC Sport's Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella looks briefly at some of the names mentioned by fans as Ronsenior's potential successor - and how realistic (or unrealistic!) they may be.

Cesc Fabregas

Early indications suggest Fabregas may be reluctant. Como could qualify for the Champions League and he also holds shares in the Italian club, meaning a move would not be as straightforward as it might initially appear.

Xabi Alonso

Alonso would be a popular choice among supporters, despite his status as a Liverpool legend, but it is not an option I have any knowledge of at this stage.

Frank Lampard (with John Terry)

Anyone following Terry on TikTok will be aware of his frustration at being unable to even join Chelsea's interim coaching staff. As for Lampard, his return would probably appeal to match‑going supporters, and he retains a strong relationship with the club's hierarchy, so it cannot be entirely ruled out. However, my instinct remains that it is unlikely.

Enzo Maresca

This appears either to be a joke or a suggestion from someone unfamiliar with the circumstances surrounding his departure, following a falling‑out with the club's hierarchy!

Eddie Howe

Chelsea's ownership has made clear its preference for Premier League‑level experience when it comes to players and it would not be surprising if the same principle applied to the head coach. Howe cannot be ruled out and would sit in a similar bracket to options such as Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva.

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Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane has been speaking to the media before Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Leeds at Wembley (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• McFarlane confirmed Estevao Willian will not play again for Chelsea this season, which "is really unfortunate especially for someone so young and talented". He added: "We're here to support him" and that he does not know if Esetavo will be fit for the World Cup but the winger is "hopeful".

• Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer have trained today and are "in a good place". When pushed if they will be fit to start, he added: "We will make a decision. They will train tomorrow. We are hopeful."

• When asked where Liam Rosenior's tenure went wrong, McFarlane said: "It's not my place to say what's gone wrong and what's gone right. All I'm thinking about is Leeds. it's a massive game. All our focus is on improving the team performance for Leeds."

• He confirmed that he has no knowledge of his role beyond the end of the season: "All I have been made aware of is I will take the team on an interim basis until the end of the season. We take things day-to-day."

• Has there been a reflection on what went wrong?: "We haven't had a clear the air meeting. It's important to have a real focus. What's happened in the past doesn't need to be spoken about. We have the group focused on how we will approach the game. It is really important that we have a real focus on Sunday."

• On Tuesday's defeat at Brighton, which signalled the end for Rosenior: "We definitely need to improve the performance. The performance against Brighton wasn't good enough - we know that. We need to make sure the group are in a better place to execute the gameplan on Sunday. The players know that. Brighton were very good, they didn't get enough credit. Our performance wasn't good enough. We will address that on Sunday and perform at the level we know we are capable of."

• Has he spoken to Rosenior?: "I spoke to Liam. I'm not sure how that's been done [him saying goodbye as the players had a day off on Wednesday]. I spoke to him on the phone. It was a good conversation. I have a lot of respect for Liam. we have a really good relationship and I'm gutted that it didn't work out."

• Looking ahead to the Wembley semi-final, McFarlane said: "Everyone's excited, the whole group, the whole club. It's a massive game and we're really looking forward to it. Leeds and Chelsea is always a big game, there is a rivalry there. For me, it's a game of football and you try and make it as normal as possible to hopefully get the best performance and result."

• How does this compare to his two-match interim spell in January?: "It's still a whirlwind. No-one expected what happened with Liam. I've worked with the group for three or four months now I have a good relationship with the players. I understand them better mentally, personally and physically. It's a very different task."

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Cesc Fabregas has a "long-term project" at Como, and knows he is building "something exciting and unique" at the club, says The Athletic's Serie A writer James Horncastle.

Having played for Chelsea between June 2014 and January 2019, the former central midfielder is an obvious name in the mix of prospective candidates to become the Blues' next head coach.

"Cesc Fabregas would like to work in the Premier League one day," Horncastle told BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast. "But he also appreciates that he is on to something exciting and unique right now.

"He has a stake in Como, so he is not only emotionally invested but he is also financially invested in the club.

"Como have come a long way very quickly, partly because of the investment made by the owners and partly because he has been able to show his talent there.

"I believe he has a long-term project at Como. He has the stability there that I don't think a Chelsea manager can count on at the minute - and I think that does actually matter to younger coaches.

"Chelsea have been through a whole roll call of Champions League winners, club builders and young coaches recently but they have all struggled because of the instability and confusion behind them.

"I would expect him to stay at Como this year, especially because they still have a shot at qualifying for the Champions League. While he is still able to achieve that, considering what the club means to him, I think it would make it very difficult for him to leave."

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German football journalist Rafa Honigstein has warned both "up-and-coming" and "very experienced" managers against taking up Chelsea's vacant managerial position.

The Blues sacked head coach Liam Rosenior earlier this week after just 106 days in charge, despite him penning a five-and-a-half-year deal back in January, with Calum McFarlane taking over as interim manager until the end of the season.

"It is hard to see anyone rushing to Stamford Bridge at this moment in time," Honigstein said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast. "The club's press release said a period reflection is coming, so any manager would want to find out what they are actually signing up to first.

"The club's recent managers have all been of very different profiles. They've had Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and obviously Liam Rosenior - and nothing really unites them all.

"None of them have been able to make things work at Chelsea. All of them have fallen out with the hierarchy one way or another, or fallen foul of the necessary results.

"It will be a really, really difficult job for anyone. Whether you're up-and-coming or very experienced, I would say you need to be very careful in your decision to go there."

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Manchester City are considering a move for 25-year-old Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez this summer. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, Brentford's 24-year-old striker Igor Thiago could be a summer target for the Blues and Tottenham.

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Coventry chairman Doug King says Sky Blues fans should not worry about "what may or may not happen" after head coach Frank Lampard was linked with a return to former club Chelsea.

He told BBC CWR: "He's done a fantastic job - it's been an incredible 18 months for us and for him.

"Everybody is going to get linked with everything, it's a merry-go-round. It's a bit disappointing clubs are appointing three or four managers a season.

"We don't want to be in those positions, that means something has gone a little bit astray."

King claimed Lampard was in "a happy place" at Coventry and added: "You can see how emotionally connected [Lampard] is with the city. You can see what it meant to him to get promotion and then the title.

"It doesn't mean there's not going to be some staggering bid for him in the summer and he'll have to make his choices, because he's shown his credentials as a high-quality head coach, but I'm not going to comment on that. I can't control it.

"I just think he's happy, I'm happy, everybody's happy. We've just got smiles on our faces and we don't worry about what may or may not happen for the head coach."

Read more here

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We asked for your views on who Chelsea should be looking to appoint as their next permanent manager, following Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior's sackings this season.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Ben: Cesc Fabregas should be given a chance. He is already proving that he is a good manager and he knows the club well.

Stevie: I would love Cesc Fabregas or Diego Simeone but, to be honest, the ownership will have made a lot of managers wary of the job. Marco Silva or Oliver Glasner might be the best we can hope for. They should've given the interim job to John Terry, but we know they don't want anything to do with the old club.

Pete: Frank Lampard with John Terry his defensive coach - it's time for them to make us great again.

Ross: Personally, I think Eddie Howe would be ideal. He has done all he can with Newcastle, plus he has European and trophy-winning experience. But we will need to give him time!

Andy: Whoever is selected must be allowed to have greater control with regards to buying, selling and player rotation. Otherwise, the merry-go-round will continue and Chelsea will continue to spiral. At the moment, it is akin to driving with the handbrake on and not understanding why the car isn't moving forward.

• Who do you want in charge and why?

John: If the owners are considering changing their ways, why not bring back Enzo Maresca? The players liked him and, while his style wasn't thrilling, he was effective, we won trophies and we even scored the occasional goal.

Allison: Emma Hayes! She can't do any worse than what some of the previous managers have done. Personally, I would've never have sacked Thomas Tuchel. I also believe John Terry needs a bigger role within the first team, his heart is pure blue.

Marvo: The best candidate would Xabi Alonso. His style of play will suit a lot of our current players, but I doubt he would be interested in the job. The owners have created so much chaos.

Chris: Chelsea will be linked with various big managerial candidates over the coming months but, with BlueCo pulling the strings, we will end up with another mediocre 'yes-man' who will be gone in six months.

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"All aboard the crazy train again," said Chelsea fan Alex Churchill on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast following the sacking of Liam Rosenior.

He was the fifth boss that the Chelsea owners BlueCo have dismissed in recent years with his tenure lasting less than four months.

Churchill believes the club's five sporting directors should also depart the club for "repeatedly" showing "they are out of their depth" with the recruitment of managers.

"I feel quite bad for Rosenior, but sometimes someone just isn't right and he wasn't right," said Churchill. "I don't think it will damage his career either because people will look and think 'but it's Chelsea and they are nuts'.

"Of course, he was going to take the job and hope for the best because he is ambitious but it was not a good fit.

"The bodies are piling up now and if his head has been forced to roll then so should the sporting directors. They have demonstrated repeatedly that they are out of their depth and they shouldn't still be here.

"Chelsea fans were willing to give Rosenior a chance and not willing him to fail because we are being told there is a plan to succeed but in the last month the discontent started.

"Things like substituting a defender for a defender when chasing the game felt like he didn't know what to do at this level and that's when fans started to feel like he wasn't cut out for the job.

"No one is celebrating that he has failed or has any animosity for him as a person.

"We play Leeds in an FA Cup semi-final at the weekend and the club are grovelling with fans to buy tickets. That sums up the disconnect the fans have at the moment.

"Luckily, we are in a position where nothing can go wrong from here because we aren't going to make the Champions League spot anyway.

"We aren't going to get a top manager - maybe not even a mid-range one - until people can see the structure within the club has changed.

"The same thing keeps happening."

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Chelsea remain one of European football's biggest draws - and despite this season's difficulties, high-profile managers will inevitably be attracted to the vacancy.

Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, is set to be a candidate for the position this summer.

The Portuguese's deal expires at the end of the season, meaning Chelsea would not have to pay Fulham or negotiate to release him from a contract.

The fact he is represented by agent Jorge Mendes, who has a close relationship with Chelsea's ownership, would also ease any move for Silva.

That said, sources have told BBC Sport that working within the club's current model is causing hesitation from coaches who would normally be considered for the role.

For instance, outgoing Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is of interest to Chelsea's leadership group - but those close to the Spaniard have indicated he will prioritise stability at his next post - not a trait associated with Chelsea at present.

In addition, the 43-year-old is understood to want to return with his family to Spain after deciding against signing a new Bournemouth deal.

Edin Terzic, who led Borussia Dortmund to a Champions League final in 2024, is under consideration, while former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas is earning rave reviews at Serie A club Como.

Xabi Alonso is out of work, having left Real Madrid earlier this season.

The question is whether any of those names, if approached, would express reservations about working within the Chelsea recruitment model - of bringing in younger players who can develop. And then there is the club's recent history of dispensing with managers.

That said, Chelsea are understood to be contemplating a change in approach this summer with a view to targeting more experienced signings to complement their young team.

Landing more established talent this summer may be easier said than done.

The club recently posted a £262.4m loss for the 2024-25 season - the highest pre-tax loss in Premier League history.

That, coupled with the prospect of missing out on Champions League football, is expected to restrict spending in this summer's transfer window.

The club remain confident they can attract the right coach, though they are not in active talks with any candidates and do not expect to appoint a full-time replacement until the end of the season.

They are looking for someone who can win matches and, ultimately, deliver trophies.

Who should Chelsea's next permanent manager be? Tell us

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea have introduced a ticket promotion for their FA Cup semi-final, with hundreds of seats still available to season-ticket holders and members.

At Wembley Stadium on Sunday, additional tickets are available together. Supporters are also being allowed to purchase up to three tickets, rather than the usual one.

Some supporters suggested this was due to a lack of demand but Chelsea have explained the new tickets have been acquired through the Football Association (FA).

Any member who has held their membership since 5 April can purchase a ticket, even if they have never attended a Chelsea match before.

Chelsea have been on a five-game losing run without a goal — their worst such sequence since 1912 — which was extended by Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat at Brighton.

Leeds were also granted a small additional allocation and have sold out their tickets twice over. The Yorkshire club contesting their first FA Cup semi-final since the 1986–87 season.

The match is also steeped in history since the 1970 FA Cup final, infamously dubbed one of the dirtiest matches in the competition's history and sparked a North-South rivalry between the two clubs.

Among the touting companies that could profit is Vivid Seats, which is part-owned by Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly, and is already selling seats for up to £1,705.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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You would have to be a bit simple to be surprised at the situation with all the evidence in front of you. This is the fourth season the new ownership has been in.

This is manager number six. You change it that amount of times, you have to ask the question - is the problem really the manager?

I try not to get too upset or annoyed or angry about it, but I do get upset for the Chelsea fans because we are all talking about Liam Rosenior just now. It shouldn't be a surprise. He clearly didn't have the team playing for him. The team spirit wasn't there.

I was at the Everton game surrounded by six international players that played for Everton. Every one of them said the same thing: 'no leadership, no spirit'. You can say that's the manager, or you can say is this thing working?

They weren't buying the manager and they aren't buying the ideology. It's not a small problem for Liam Rosenior. If you think that's the problem, and you're a Chelsea fan, you are deluding yourself. It's something much bigger and wider.

You have to look at the underlying problems. Why is there no leadership on the pitch? The initial ideology was to get all these young players in.

You need people that have been through this before to help the youngsters through.

There doesn't seem to be anyone like that at the club. It doesn't mean, because it's novel that it's wrong, but it doesn't look great, does it?

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Chelsea are drawing up a list of candidates to replace Liam Rosenior, with departing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola among those under consideration. (RMC Sport - in French), external

The Blues are also looking at former midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is currently managing Italian club Como. (Football Insider), external

Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Newcastle have expressed an interest in signing 23-year-old Manchester City and England goalkeeper James Trafford. (Goal), external

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich are not looking to extend Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson's loan stay from Chelsea at the end of the season. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Barcelona are assessing several attacking targets for the summer, with Chelsea forward Pedro Neto and Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva among them. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Liam Rosenior actually deserves a measure of sympathy after what has been a harrowing few months before being put out of his misery.

The end result is another BlueCo-created crisis that has resulted in a revolving door of managers, a toxic relationship between the owners and Chelsea's fanbase, as well as the biggest pre-tax losses in Premier League history, announced as £262m at the start of April.

When the group took control of Chelsea in a £4.25bn deal in succession to Roman Abramovich in May 2022, Chelsea had just finished third in the Premier League under current England head coach Thomas Tuchel and had not been outside the top five in seven years. They had won the Champions League one year previously.

Now, they face a fight to secure any kind of European football next season, with the heavy financial hit that would bring.

• Read more from Phil on Chelsea

Rosenior's dismissal may solve one problem, but those in Chelsea's boardroom must take the major share of the blame for a club that looks increasingly out of control.

Chelsea's recent losses eclipsed Manchester City's £197.5m deficit in 2011, despite bringing in £490.9m in revenue, which the club says is the second highest total in its history.

Since the current ownership took control in 2022, Chelsea have spent around £1.5bn on players, focusing on securing a raft of younger players on long-term contracts.

Calum McFarlane returns in the role of safety net between now and the end of the season, the former Under-21 coach having bridged the gap between Maresca and Rosenior earlier this season.

He must navigate an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday before trying to make sure Chelsea at least earn a place in Europe.

And then, after that period of "self-reflection", Chelsea will start work - in their words - "to bring stability to the head coach position."

Calum McFarlane will take over at Chelsea as interim manager until the end of the season.

McFarlane, 40, is in his first season as Chelsea academy coach after joining from Southampton last year.

He started his coaching career with non-league side Croydon and worked in Manchester City's academy until 2023.

The Englishman crossed paths with Chelsea's academy technical director Glenn van de Kraan - who was appointed from City in 2024 - during his four years at Etihad Stadium.

McFarlane impressed the hierarchy at Chelsea during his time with the academy, winning 11 of his 21 games.

He guided the Blues' Under-19s to five wins and a draw from six matches in the Uefa Youth League to finish first in the league phase - beating Barcelona, Benfica, Bayern Munich and Ajax.

His final game in charge of the Under-21s ended in a 6-2 defeat against Benfica's Under-23s on 7 January. McFarlane was named as Rosenior's assistant with the first team the following day.

Read more on the changes at Chelsea

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We asked for your views on whether sacking Liam Rosenior was the right thing to do.

Further down this page you'll find comment from Gary Neville, BBC Sport's Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella, stats galore and plenty of opinions from supporters.

Here are just some of your comments:

Paul: Good luck Liam. Unfortunately, Chelsea FC can't sack those players that didn't perform for you, so you have had to suffer. As far as I am concerned, those players can follow you out the door. They play for Chelsea FC and the club pay their wages. The boys that didn't turn up last night should be ashamed that you got the coach the sack. If you don't want to wear the blue shirt, then leave.

Kazuki: Hardly a surprise, but is it because I'm too used to this type of event (28 years of supporting)? Whether this sacking is a calculated risk or not depends entirely on whom the management brings in as the next manager. I'll hold onto my opinion about the management. Let's see what happens next.

Osman: So Chelsea have sacked Rosenior? Now it's time for the sporting directors and the owners to leave Chelsea. We are tired of their bad recruitment and poor results on the pitch. Chelsea wasn't broken when these owners came in and now look at it.

Tom: Obviously, they should have never appointed Liam Rosenior, but when it happens, you hope for a fairytale. Hopefully his career isn't wrecked and hopefully those in charge realise they need to listen and change strategy.

Alan: The owners need to look in the mirror and ask themselves, are they really up to the job? Obviously, they'll think they are, and blame everyone else. The senior club managers also need to be held to account. There is a club full of people with very little experience of playing or managing a club of this size. Time will tell who really is the problem.

Sean: He should never have got the job in the first place. The fans knew, just a shame our owners didn't. It was always going to end this way, as with Graham Potter. We have spent all that money building a team that is clearly not good enough and with no experienced pros in it. We are no further forward from when they took over. As a club, we have lost our identity. We need a manager with top-level experience and someone like John Terry in the backroom staff who knows the club inside out to bring stability and structure back into the football club.

Robert: The owners are completely to blame for turning the club into a shambles. They obviously have no understanding of running a football club. No person with any credibility would want to operate as a 'head coach', knowing they'll only be able to use players that are purchased based on statistics by sporting directors who are gambling on potential. Players are not solely commodities that you can try to make a profit from, but the owners seem to be trying to run the club as a business.

Valentine: Why was he appointed in the first place? He has neither the experience nor profile to handle such a young team with so much expectation. I hope the management learns from this grave error.

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