Chelsea have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior less than four months into his Stamford Bridge tenure following a 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, the club’s fifth consecutive Premier League loss without scoring, Peak Newspaper reports
The Blues confirmed the decision on Wednesday afternoon after morning and early-afternoon meetings between the hierarchy and Rosenior to discuss his future.
Rosenior, 41, was appointed in January on a six-and-a-half-year deal after Enzo Maresca’s departure, arriving from sister club Strasbourg.
Tuesday’s loss at the Amex left Chelsea seventh, leapfrogged by Brighton, and seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool who have a game in hand.
It also marked the first time Chelsea have lost five straight league games without a goal since November 1912 – 114 years ago.
The club have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions.
Rosenior publicly criticized his players’ attitude after the Brighton match, calling the performance “unacceptable in every aspect of the game” and “indefensible”. “Something has to change drastically right here, right now,” he told Sky Sports.
Chelsea said the decision was not taken lightly but results had “fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season”.
The club thanked Rosenior and his staff for their efforts and professionalism.
Calum McFarlane will take charge as interim head coach until the end of the season.
McFarlane, 40, previously led the team for two games after Maresca left a 1-1 draw at Manchester City and a 2-1 loss to Fulham.
The defeat at Brighton saw supporters turn their ire toward Rosenior for the first time, alongside continued protests against the BlueCo ownership.
TalkSPORT reported that several senior players were “unimpressed by Rosenior’s tactics and training methods,” with some questioning whether he “lacks the aura” of predecessors Maresca or Mauricio Pochettino.
Pundit Tim Sherwood said on Sky Sports: “Liam Rosenior will not survive this… It’s a real tough job for any manager to survive this environment”.
Danny Murphy told talkSPORT the position had become “untenable” once fans turned.
Rosenior’s long-term contract means Chelsea could face a compensation bill of up to £24 million if no break clauses were included, with his reported salary at £4m-a-year.
However, sources note the hierarchy changed its approach after Graham Potter’s dismissal, and recent managers Thomas Tuchel and Pochettino received around £13m and £10m respectively, while Maresca waived compensation.
The club said it will “undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment”.
Reports link Chelsea with managers with Premier League experience, including Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner, who are leaving Bournemouth and Crystal Palace at the end of the season.
The appointment would be the sixth permanent head coach under the current owners.
Chelsea still have an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday.
In the league, they do not play again for over a fortnight, with their next game at home to Nottingham Forest. By then, they could be as low as 14th depending on other results.
Rosenior leaves with a record of 11 wins from 23 games in all competitions. He joined from Strasbourg, where he won 51 of 63 matches.
Chelsea won the FIFA Club World Cup under Maresca earlier in the season, but the domestic collapse has left Champions League qualification in serious doubt.
