Chelsea Football Club have parted ways with head coach Liam Rosenior after losing seven of their last eight matches and failing to score in five straight league defeats, their worst run since 1912, leaving their Champions League hopes in serious doubt.
The decision was announced just four months after Rosenior took charge in January, replacing Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea’s form has collapsed in recent weeks, prompting the club to act. The final blow came in a 3-0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion, a result that saw Brighton move above Chelsea into sixth place.
The Blues are now seven points behind Liverpool FC, who sit fifth with a game in hand.
In an official statement, the club said it had parted company with Rosenior, adding that the decision was not taken lightly but recent performances had fallen below the required standards, especially with so much still left to play for this season.
The 41-year-old had joined from RC Strasbourg, where he had guided the team to European qualification in his first season. He made a strong start at Chelsea, overseeing an unbeaten league run that included four wins and two draws. However, the team’s form collapsed in March, leading to a string of poor results.
Chelsea also suffered a heavy Champions League exit, losing 8-2 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain, which came as a major setback after beating the same side in last year’s Club World Cup final.
Their struggles have been particularly evident in attack, with the team losing five straight league matches without scoring a single goal, their worst run since 1912. The only bright spot during this period was a 7-0 win over Port Vale in the FA Cup.
Fans turned on Rosenior during the second half of the Brighton defeat, calling for his dismissal. After the match, Rosenior admitted he could not defend the performance, describing himself as “numb” and “angry,” while urging players to look at themselves and reflect.
Despite the poor results, defender Trevoh Chalobah said the team’s effort was not lacking, insisting that the players had “run their socks off.”
Chelsea have now appointed Calum McFarlane as interim head coach until the end of the season, with a crucial FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United coming up next.
The club added that it will now begin a process of self-reflection as it looks to make the right long-term managerial appointment and bring stability back to the team.
