Enzo Maresca leaves Chelsea after 18 months in charge

Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea head coach after 18 months in charge.

Maresca joined Chelsea in 2024 and won the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup with the west London side.

The club currently sit fifth in the table, with just one win from their last seven Premier League matches.

The news means that Chelsea are now looking for their fifth permanent manager in three and a half years.

It's the first time in Premier League history that a manager has left his job on New Year's Day.

The news was announced by Chelsea in a club statement.

It said that "with key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track."

Maresca joined Chelsea in June 2024 on a five-year contract.

In his first season as head coach, he won two major trophies with the team - the Uefa Conference League and the Fifa Club World Cup.

However, the club has recently had a difficult run of results.

The Blues have won just one of their past seven league matches and are currently fifth in the table, 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Chelsea have yet to announce who will replace Maresca and are now looking for their fifth permanent manager since May 2022.