After 92 games 

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Chelsea confirmed on Thursday that they had parted company with head coach Enzo Maresca with immediate effect. Reports prior to the club statement suggested that the relationship between the 45-year-old tactician and his employers had deteriorated to the point that a change was necessary. Maresca leaves the club three days before Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Manchester City, but the Stamford Bridge side are reportedly set to announce a successor in the coming days.

In a club statement, Chelsea suggested that Maresca’s departure was necessary to get their season “back on track”, following a run of form that had seen the club pick up just three victories in their last 10 games across all competitions. During his 549-day spell at Stamford Bridge, Maresca oversaw 92 games across all competitions, averaging 1.97 points per game. Which was a notable improvement over his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, who averaged 1.78 points per game but well below the likes of Thomas Tuchel (2.08), Maurizio Sarri (2.08) and Antonio Conte (2.12).

Such form led to a return to the Premier League top four in Maresca’s first season at the club, following the club’s slump to sixth place under Pochettino. The club also won the UEFA Conference League in Maresca’s first season, but fell short in the FA Cup and League Cup in the fourth rounds of both tournaments. And, following a tepid start to this season, fans of the club were beginning to question whether Maresca could return Chelsea to their previous status as Premier League title contenders. While it remains to be seen who could replace Maresca, reports have already suggested that Liam Rosenior could be in line for the job, following an impressive job at sister club Strasbourg.