LONDON — Liam Rosenior’s tenure as Chelsea head coach has ended after just four months, far short of the six-and-a-half-year contract he signed in January. The club confirmed the departure on April 22, 2026, following a dismal run of form that saw Chelsea fail to score in five consecutive matches.
The decision comes after a 0-3 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on April 20, which marked the fifth straight Premier League game without a goal for the Blues. That loss dropped Chelsea to seventh in the table, two points behind sixth place — the final Europa League qualification spot — with Champions League hopes now resting on mathematical possibility alone.
Rosenior, who joined from Racing Strasbourg in January, had overseen just seven wins in his 15 matches in charge across all competitions. His exit makes him the fifth different Chelsea manager since Thomas Tuchel’s departure in 2022, highlighting the continued instability at Stamford Bridge under the club’s current ownership.
“This decision was not taken lightly by the club, but recent results and performances have fallen short of the required standards, despite there still being so much to play for this season,” Chelsea said in an official statement.
The Blues are set to face Leeds United in the FA Cup semifinal on April 27, a match that will now be led by interim head coach Callum McFarlane, previously the club’s youth team coach. McFarlane will oversee the team for the remainder of the 2025-26 season while Chelsea conducts a search for a permanent replacement.
Rosenior’s contract, which ran until June 2032, included a substantial compensation package, though neither party has disclosed financial details of the separation. His departure adds to a growing list of high-profile managerial exits at Chelsea since 2022, including Graham Potter, Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, and Enzo Maresca.
The timing of the sacking raises questions about the club’s long-term planning, particularly given the length of Rosenior’s original agreement. Chelsea’s hierarchy has yet to announce a timeline for appointing a new head coach, though reports suggest they are evaluating both internal and external candidates.
For now, the focus shifts to salvaging the season. With the FA Cup semifinal offering a route to silverware and European qualification, Chelsea will look to McFarlane to steady the ship in the final weeks of the campaign. The match against Leeds at Wembley Stadium represents the next immediate test for the caretaker manager.
Chelsea’s next fixture is the FA Cup semifinal versus Leeds United on April 27, 2026, at Wembley Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Local time (2:00 p.m. UTC).
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